Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Virgil E. Melquist was born September 23, 1922 to Walter and Alice (Beckman) Melquist of Cokato, MN. He grew up in a loving home on the farm North of Cokato. He was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cokato where he has been a life long member having served on many committees throughout the years.
On May 14, 1947 he was united in marriage to Lucille Ruge at her church in Maple Lake, MN. To this union 2 children; Duane and Daryl were born.
After finishing the eighth grade he went to work on the farm. On the farm he helped with dairy, crop farming and worked at the saw mill cutting wood which was used to build many buildings in the area. Virgil and Lucy enjoyed going to church and attending bible study. Virgil also enjoyed working on several church projects over the years and helped build the church stand. His other interests include playing cards, softball games and dancing. He particularly liked polka. Virgil was especially proud of his family and enjoyed spending quality time with them.
Virgil passed away in Buffalo, MN on January 8, 2020. He had reached the age of 97 years. Survivors include: sons Duane (Mary) of Cokato and Daryl (Linda) of Eden Prairie. Grandchildren: Damon (Tresha) Melquist of Cokato, Stephanie (Dan) Robertson of Cokato, Michelle (Phil) Uecker of Cokato, Amber Lacina of Shakopee, Kalie (TJ) Daniel of Las Vegas, NV. Great grandchildren: Kenzie, Kylie and Kasey Melquist, Olivia, Gabrielle and Raquel Robertson, Adalyn and Sawyer Lacina, Stella Daniel and Bryer Uecker.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato. www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Duane C. Peterson 87, of Cokato passed away at Cokato Manor on 12/18/2019.
Memorial service: 11 AM Saturday, 12/21/2019, at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake.
Visitation: 3-7 PM Friday, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, and 1hr prior to service at church on Saturday..
Prayer Service: 6:30 PM Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home Cokato

Duane Clinton Peterson was born at Heatwole, Hutchinson, Minnesota on July 1, 1932, to Elmer and Agnes (Jenneke) Peterson. He was baptized as an infant at Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson and later confirmed his faith as a youth. He received his education in the Hutchinson area, and graduated on May 31, 1950 from Hutchinson High School.

Duane joined the United States Navy in 1952 and actively served until 1956. He spent time aboard the destroyer USS Rowan DD782 as a fire control officer. Duane served in the Naval Reserve from 1956 to 1960. On November 7, 1953, while in the service, Duane married Marcella Hintz at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. They were blessed with three children.

After service, the couple made their home in Cokato until 2014 when they moved to the Good Samaritan Apartments in Howard Lake. Duane was employed as a master bricklayer. and cement finisher at Martinson Construction for 40 years. After retirement, he worked for several years at Functional Industries in Cokato.

Duane enjoyed hunting, fishing, and listening and dancing to country music (Smoking Guns, River Canyon and South 40) with Marcella, his wife of 66 years. He loved spending time with family and friends. Duane was a member of the Cokato American Legion, Ridgerunners snowmobile club, and very active in his church, St. James Lutheran, serving as an Elder and in many other positions.

Duane passed away at Cokato Manor on December 18, 2019. He had reached the age of 87 years, 5 months and 17 days.

Survivors include: wife, Marcella; daughters Cindy Hoskins (fiancé Chuck Duncan) and Brenda (Randy) Schaufler; and son, Wayne (Kathy) Peterson. Grandchildren: Melissa (Stefan) Hamilton, Michael (Jenny) Hoskins, Ryan (Nikki) Schaufler, Rodney Schaufler (fiancé Shantay Krumray), Trevor (Lindsey) Peterson, and Shauna Peterson. Great-grandchildren: Briana Anderson (special friend Andy Miller), Katelyn Anderson, Mason Anderson, Wyatt Hamilton, Maggie Hamilton, Hailey Hoskins (special friend Maddy Benson), Devin Hoskins and Lexi Hoskins. Brother Lowell Peterson; sisters Lavonne Kaufman, Muriel (Harold) VonBerg, and Lois (Gary) Hoffman. Sister-in-law Delores Peterson. And by many nieces and nephews, friends and relatives.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Agnes; father- and mother-in-law William and Effie Hintz; brothers Lloyd (Loretta) Peterson and Omar (Edith) Peterson; brothers-in-law Hillard Kaufman, Ray Peterson, Clinton (Audrey) Hintz, Ellwood (Evelyn) Hintz, William (Doris) Hintz Jr., and Marvin Hintz; and sister-in-law Barb Peterson. Also several nieces and nephews.

Eliza (Mahlstedt) Haag was born December 2, 1921 in Albion Township, MN the daughter of Henry and Irene (Zander) Mahlstedt. She was baptized on January 15, 1922 at Bethlehem Evangelical Church in Maple Lake and confirmed there on August 25, 1935. Eliza was united in marriage to Ervin Haag on November 14, 1941 at Bethlehem Evangelical Church in Maple Lake. Their union was blessed with four daughters. Together they farmed and made their home in the country side of Howard Lake. Eliza was a homemaker and later began working with relatives in doing interior painting and varnishing. Later she joined St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. She served on the church Alter Guild and helped with quilting and assembly of the church newsletter. She also enjoyed flower gardening in her spare time.
On September 13, 2017 she became a resident of Good Samaritan Care Center in Howard Lake, where she resided until her death. On December 15, 2019 Eliza was called to her eternal rest at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield.
Eliza was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin, her parents, siblings, grandson, Ricky Schmieg, and sons-in-law, Melvin Buttenhoff and Will Massingham.
She is survived by her daughters, Beatrice Buttenhoff of Howard Lake, Evelyn (Dale) Schmieg of Howard Lake, Ruth Massingham of Litchfield, and Karen (Merlyn) Schmieg of Howard Lake, 11 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Reverend Mark Loder will officiate; organist will be Mrs. Nancy Butterfass, and soloist, Dr. Deb Peterson of Litchfield. Internment at Howard Lake Cemetery, and casket bearers: Daryl Buttenhoff, Grant Bowman, Mike Massingham, Brian Massingham, Jason Schmieg, and Dan Schmieg. Visitation from 4-8 PM on Tuesday December 17, 2019 with 7 PM prayer at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Theodore Eugene Umhoefer III of Buffalo, MN passed away on December 8, 2019, surrounded by loving family and friends. A 1968 graduate of Perham high school, a graduate of U of MN Morris, and the U of MN Masters program, Ted was proud of his career at the Federal Reserve where he was a visionary and pioneer in electronic banking. Ted is preceded in death by his father, Theodore Eugene Umhoefer II, and his mother, Bonnie Umhoefer, and is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susan Umhoefer; children, Anne (Gabe Turner) Umhoefer, Kevin (Holly) Umhoefer, and Katie Umhoefer; grandchildren, Henry Umhoefer and Will Umhoefer; sister, Pat (Tim) Asche; and many nieces and nephews. Ted enjoyed serving on the United Bankers Bank board of directors and had a sense of community with his church. Ted especially enjoyed spending time with his family at the cabin and playing card games with his grandsons; his fondest memories were of these idyllic times spent at Little Pine Lake. He was a loving presence in the lives of many and he will be dearly missed.

Memorial Service: 11 AM Saturday, December 14, 2019 at New Life Assembly of God Church, Cokato, Minnesota
Visitation: 1 hr. prior to service at church.

Johnson, Dennis Carlyle
age 83, of Sauk Centre passed away November 30, 2019. He was born March 2, 1936 in Donnelly, MN to Peter and Freda (Gulbranson) Johnson. Dennis spent his early years farming at home in Morris, MN where he loved his horse, Amigo. He was the first student to attend the University of Minnesota – Morris. Dennis loved country music and would play his guitar entertaining the seniors. He was a postal worker until age 55, when he began enjoying his retirement, spending 15 years in Arizona.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Mona (Hessel), step-son, Benny Gitchel, and brothers, Rolland (Evelyn) Johnson and Marvin (Lillian) Johnson.
He is survived by his children, Terrance (Jonell) Johnson, Sheila (James) Robideau, LaRae (Roy) Zeithamer, and Audra Johnson, special bond, JoAnn (Todd) Johnson, special bond, Kristy Johnson, step-children, Chris Stoddard and William Gitchel, grandchildren, Tera Epperly, Stephanie Hiltner, Lauren Johnson, and Connor Johnson, step-grandchildren, Andrew Miller, Tony Winston, Jordan Winston, Nicholas Stoddard, Mike Krueger, and great-grandchildren, Trisitin Davidson, Briana Epperly, and Hanna Berens.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 with visitation 1 hour prior to services at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com