Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Muriel Joyce Mattson of Howard Lake passed away at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center on November 27, 2019
Memorial Service: 2PM Saturday, December 7, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation; 4-8 PM Friday December 6, 2019 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, and 1hr prior to service at church on Saturday
Prayer Service 6:30 Friday evening
Interment: Swedesburg Lutheran Cemetery, Waverly Minnesota
Muriel Joyce Mattson, was born on December 3, 1932 in Howard Lake, Minnesota to, Louis and Esther (Streich) Birkholz. She grew up in Howard Lake, Minnesota; was baptized and confirmed at the St. James Lutheran church. She graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1950.
Muriel married Clayton Mattson on October 21, 1950, at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake. The couple made their home first at Dean Lake, then to the farm North of Howard Lake. Together they operated a dairy farm and raised beef. In 1958 they started Mattson Well Company.
Muriel enjoyed sewing, golf, going to casino, and dancing. She was an active member at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake.
Muriel passed away on November 27, 2019, at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center. She had reached the age of 86 years, 11 months and 24 days.
Survivors include her children; Nola (Loyal) Staskivige of Loretto, Deborah Herbst of Delano, Kurt Mattson of Howard Lake and Kent Mattson of Howard Lake. Grand Children; David Nettleton, Jason Herbst, Stephanie Schumann, Nathan Mattson, Forrest Mattson, and Amber Mattson Gruba. Great Grand Children: Brandon Nettleton, Clark Herbst, one on the way, Ethan Ragan, Dylan Mattson, Kane Koerner, Alexa and Kasja Schumann, Skylor and Devin Gruba. She is also survived by her sister Lavonne Stueven of Waconia.
Muriel was preceded in death by: her parents Louis and Esther Birkholz, Husband Clayton, son John and Brother Ken Birkholz.

Everrett William Smith passed away on November 26, 2019 at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center.
On Easter Sunday morning, April 16, 1933, Everrett William Smith was born to Arthur and Caroline (Hempel) Smith at the family farm in Middleville Township, west of Howard Lake.

Everrett attended Howard Lake elementary and high school, graduating in 1951. After high school he farmed with his father until entering the US Army in 1955, serving 16 months in Korea. After discharge Everrett worked at 3M in Hutchinson until returning to the farm full time in 1958. He later attended Ag Management classes under the GI bill and served on the local school board.

Everrett married Elaine Frank on June 28, 1957. Together they raised three children, farmed, and had a business producing and retailing eggs for many years. Everrett became a substitute rural mail carrier in 1982. This turned into a full-time carrier job, in 1989. At that time the livestock was sold, but Everrett and his family continued to farm the land. After retirement from the post office his son, Larry, took over operating the farm. Everrett continued to help on the farm, delivered meals on wheels, and became a part of the sing-a-long group at the care center. Everrett looked forward to Tuesday mornings at 10:30, when it was time to sing!

Several winters were spent at Roadhaven Resort in Apache Junction, AZ. Everrett was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake, serving as an elder and trustee at various times. He also served as treasurer of Middleville Township for 31 years. Everrett remained on the farm until September of 2018 when he entered Good Samaritan care center in Howard Lake.

Everrett was a man of deep faith and was always there for his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the community and enjoyed working on his farm.

Everrett is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine, and his children, Larry (Laurie) Smith, Jeanne (David) Mages, and Debbie (David) Honebrink. Everrett is also survived by seven grandchildren, Ryan Smith, Kyle (Alicia) Smith, Chelsea (David) Buttenhoff, Trevor (fiancé Catheryn Barth) Mages, Cassie Mages, Danny Mages, and Jason Honebrink. Everrett was also a great grandpa to Malachi and Levi Smith, and has one great grandchild due in February. He is survived by sister, Helen Zander, and brother, Dale (Carol) Smith. Everrett was predeceased by his parents, his stepmother, Margueritte, and his sister Dorothy Janneke, as well as sisters and brothers in law.

Funeral service will be 11 AM Monday, December 2, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake, Pastor Carol Chmielewski officiating. Visitation: 4-7 Pm Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake. Burial will be in Howard Lake Cemetery.

Darrell Fred Main was born on January 12, 1935 to Fred and Lillian (Zander) Main in Howard Lake, Minnesota. He graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1953 and went on to get his teaching degree from St Cloud State.
Darrell married Nancy Buescher on June 15th, 1963 at Nashwauk Lutheran Church. They lived in many different places early in their marriage and finally settled back in Howard Lake. Darrell wore many hats and had many different jobs in his lifetime. He was an art teacher and coach in Glencoe, MN, worked in sales at Skelly Oil and Goodyear. Darrell and his wife Nancy owned the Howard Lake bowling alley and went on to own the Montgomery Ward catalog store in Cokato. Darrell later drove school bus for Howard Lake Waverly Winsted School District until he retired.
Darrell loved hunting, fishing, woodworking, working on engines and anything outdoors. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake American Legion Post 145, and Lions Club International.
As a Lion, he served many different positions from club President of Howard Lake to District Governor of 5M7 District. Darrell won many awards and recognitions throughout his time as a Lion. He was always willing to help and serve others.
Darrell passed away at Park View Care Center in Buffalo, MN on Friday, November 15, 2019. He was 84 years old.
Darrell is survived by his son Fred (Catherine) of Buffalo and their children Kaitlyn and Fred, his daughter Kristi of Dassel, his nephews Robert Buescher, Thomas (Nancy) Buescher, Traci Buescher (Brad Keith) and many great nephews and nieces.
Darrell is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, brother in law and sister in law.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 25, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

David William Danberg, age 62, went to be in paradise with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 13, 2019. The son of Kale Danberg and Nancy (Broan) Danberg, was born physically on February 11, 1957, and born spiritually, on July 9, 2019. As an avid Vikings fan, he hated to mention that he was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. Fortunately soon after, his family moved to Cokato, Minnesota where he lived out the rest his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family, watching sports, hunting and fishing.
A 1975 graduate of Dassel-Cokato High School. He attended University of Minnesota, Crookston obtaining an associate’s degree. Married August 18, 1984 to Donette Lange as a result of a successful blind date set up by his future mother-in-law and her friend Mae Delp. He and his bride again renewed their vows with family and friends this past summer on their 35th wedding anniversary.
Illness plagued Dave for the past ten years, with Hereditary Hemmoragiac Telangectasia being the culprit to heart, kidney and liver failure. HHT caused chronic nose and mouth bleeds which sent him to the hospital over 100 times for blood transfusions and many other hospital stays. Very grateful to all those who give life through their blood to the Red Cross as you helped to sustained his physical life. Eternally grateful for the blood of Jesus Christ, which gave spiritual life so that Dave could live forever in God’s spiritual kingdom. Further grateful to doctors Dale Lawrence, Tony Lesch, Karen Riley and their staff at Buffalo clinics, and the nurses and volunteers at Guardian Angels Hospice Care.
Dave worked 40 years at the same company as they changed names and places. Beginning with FabriTech here in Cokato, then CTS Connectors and AbelConn Electronics, which moved the plant to New Hope in 2002, and ending at Atrenne on March 15, 2019. He worked in quality control and as a machinist. Dave provided faithfully and amazingly for his family through all of his medical trials.
Surviving Dave is his wife Donette, daughter Trista of Blaine, sons Kenny and Seth of Cokato, his father Kale (JoAnn) of Brooklyn Park, mother Nancy of Dassel, sister Linda Ponsford of Dassel and brother Jeff of Cokato. Further survived by his in-laws Hank and Ruth Lange of St. Cloud, sister-in-laws Deb (Jay) Kadlec of Sartell, Darlene (Glenn) Jude of Dayton, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister Rachel in 2008, and brother-in-laws Norm Ponsford and Dale Lange in 2018.
A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Cokato at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 24. Visitation one hour prior to the service and a light lunch served afterwards. Arrangements made by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, Minnesota, 320-286-2534.

Stephen James Achterkirch, was born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 1, 1948, to Herbert and Ruth (Christensen) Achterkirch. He grew up in Cokato, Minnesota and graduated from Cokato High School in 1966. After high school he attended St. Cloud State University.
After stints in construction, Steve began working for American Breeders Service (ABS) and was lucky enough to retire in his mid-fifties.
His pastimes included local theater, softball, hunting, weight training, reading non-fiction, and darts. But the majority of his time was spent on the lakes fishing with friends and family.
Stephen passed away at his home in Glencoe, Minnesota on November 9, 2019. He had reached the age of 71 years, 6 months and 8 days. Survivors include his brother Peter (Lauren) Achterkirch of Wadena, Nieces Lisa Uselman (Pat Delcourt) of Andover and Allison Achterkirch (Kurt Johnson) of New Hope, 3 great nephews: Matthew, Zachary, and Novi, 2 great nieces: Mikaela and Zayda, and 1 great-great nephew, Jaxson.

There will be a short graveside service at the Spencer Cemetery in Aitkin, Minnesota on November 23, 2019 at 11 AM, and celebratory lunch afterwards at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aitkin.