Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Marian Johnson passed away at Cokato Manor on 2/21/2020.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Friday, February 28, 2020 at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church
Visitation: 5-8 PM Thursday at the Church and 1hr prior to service on Friday
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery

Marian Elizabeth Johnson (Wuollet), 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 21st. She was surrounded by family and loved ones as the angels came to take her to her heavenly home. Marian was born on January 24, 1926 in Cokato, Mn. Marian was a hard worker, helping in the barn and also helping to raise the family when her Mother died on her 16th birthday. Marian was married to James Johnson on July 3rd, 1948. Marian was blessed with 11 children; 8 girls and 3 boys.
In Marian’s life, there were many joys and sorrows. Throughout it all; she remained in the center of God’s kingdom. God gave her a heart of a faithful servant. She humbly and obediently brought her children up in faith and turned to the believers in time of need. She served many believers in her home and was a mother/grandmother to many. We have all learned by her example and hope to one day join her in heaven.
Marian is survived by her loving family; Kathleen (David) Niskanen, Kristine (Edward) Jurvakainen, Karen (David) Raisanen, Rebecca (David) Forstie, Ranaye Motari, Bruce (Susan) Johnson, Judith (Douglas) Mattila, Brian (Valerie) Johnson, Sandra (Steven) Hall, Janelle (Nathan) Muhonen, Curtis (Kristen) Johnson. 139 grandchildren, 405 great- grandchildren, 18 great great- grandchildren. Siblings; Marcella Hallberg, Mildred Mattila, Myrtle Keranen, Dick (Maryann)Wuollet, sister-in-law, Eva Wuollet, brother-in-law Robert Johnson.
Marian was preceded in death by her husband James Johnson; mother, Estella Wuollet, father, Harry Wuollet; 7 sisters, 4 brothers, 1 son-in-law, Steve Motari; grandchildren, Jered Motari, Benjamin Hall, Troy Niskanen, Trisha Jurvakainen; great-grandchildren, Alex Niskanen,

Roger Lee Tonsberg, age 79, of Howard Lake passed away from complications of congestive heart failure on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Buffalo Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato on Thursday, February 20, at 11 a.m.
Roger was born May 11, 1940 to Esther (Scott) and Theodore Tonsberg. He was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato. After graduating from Howard Lake High School, he learned the skills of auto body work from his older brother Marlyn. In 1962, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. As a marksman on a competitive pistol team he traveled into several countries from which he ably sent special gifts back home to his family.
After a two-year tour of duty, Roger attended St. Cloud State University, majoring in biology. His interests in hunting and fishing earned him trophies in marksmanship in numerous events. In 1963, he joined his brother to continue with the auto body repair work at Vincent’s Auto Body in Minneapolis until 1969. This work extended to his brother’s auto body shop in Plymouth for another twenty years.
In later years he showed his Labrador, Blackie, whom he had trained and groomed for competitive trials. Together, they traveled the U.S. and Canada capturing numerous awards.
He is survived by sisters, Doris M.E. Rodd of Mound, Jeanette (Leroy) Entinger of Buffalo, sister-in-law, Delores Czech Tonsberg of Maple Plain, nieces and nephews and many relatives and friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Doris Marjorie; brother, Marlyn; brother, Donald; brother in law, Charles Rodd; and his special buddy, Blackie.
The family is especially appreciative of the thoughtful concerns and kindness of Dennis Larson and Leonard Kaisalahti.

Anderson, Lawrence “Larry” 82, of Cokato, passed away 2/16/2020, At St. Cloud Hospital. Survived by: wife Rosie of Cokato, Son Jim (Jan) Anderson of Elk River. Daughter-in-law Melissa Anderson of Monticello. 7 Grand and 2 great grand children. Funeral service 1 PM Friday, 2/21/2020, at Evangelcial Lutheran Church of Cokato. Visitation 4-7 PM on Thursday, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Friday. Interment Church Cemetery.

Lawrence Edward Ole “Larry” Anderson was born in Cokato, Minnesota on April 20, 1937 to Clarence E. and Ardiana (Nelson) Anderson. He was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato. He grew up in Cokato and graduated from Cokato High School in 1955. In the Spring of 1955, he joined the Naval Air Reserve, and proudly served for 8 years.
On October 6, 1956, Larry married Roselene Nolan. They were blessed with 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; and had been happily married for over 63 years at the time of Larry’s passing.
Shortly after getting married, Larry went to work for Stan Hagstrom at the White Front in Cokato, where he learned the butchering and meat cutting trade. He was the police officer in Cokato for approximately 6 years, and worked part time as a carpenter for Don Johnson, and at Johnson Machine Shop. He returned to the meat cutting trade for over 30 years, working at Country Club Markets and Cub Foods in the metro area before retiring in 2000.
Larry’s greatest love was time spent with Rosie and his entire family. He and Rosie were always in attendance at their children’s and grandchildren’s various sporting, music, drama and other activities over the years. He enjoyed camping and travel, reading, motorcycling, country dancing, woodworking, and was an avid golfer after retirement.
Larry passed away at the St. Cloud Hospital on February 16, 2020. He had reached the age of 82 years, 9 months and 26 days. Larry is survived by wife Roselene of Cokato; Son Jim (Jan) Anderson of Elk River; Daughter-in-Law Melissa Anderson of Monticello; Grandchildren: Kelsey (Scott) McDonald of Ft. Worth, Texas; Canaan Anderson of Elk River; Kenzie Anderson of Elk River; Cassandra (Ryan) Holt of Big Lake; Brenyn (Jamie) Anderson of Monticello; Myranda (Nicholas) Bomersine of Smithfield, Virginia; Nelson Anderson of Monticello; Great Granddaughters: Charlie Ann Holt and Everly Reese Anderson; and Sister Sharon (David) Moist of London, Arkansas .
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Ardiana, daughter Laramie Rose, son Jerrill Lawrence, grandson Daryn, and stepsister Donna Voelcker

Edna “Lorraine” Swenson Elmquist, age 92, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior at Cokato Manor on January 23rd in Cokato, MN. Lorraine was was born on September 11, 1927 in Clayton, WI to Anton and Ruth (Blomquist) Swenson. She moved to a farm near Kandiyohi, MN when she was nine years old and graduated from Willmar High School in 1945. She was in the first graduating class from Rice Memorial Hospital’s LPN nursing school and worked as an LPN at Rice Memorial (Willmar) and Cloquet Memorial Hospitals. She also spent a winter working in Waco, Texas. Lorraine married Willard (Bill) Elmquist in 1953. To this union four children were born. The family moved to Cloquet, MN in 1957, where she remained after the death of her husband Bill in 1990. She moved back to Kandiyohi in 2005 and enjoyed traveling to visit family, taking her grandchildren on road-trips to Montana and winter getaways to Arizona with her brother Arnold and his wife Kathryn. She spent her later years at Lakeview Ranch in Dassel, Cedar Crest in Cosmos, Prairie Senior Cottage in Willmar and Cokato Manor. Lorraine had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings, funerals and church services. She was nicknamed the “Soul Singer.” As Alzheimer’s disease stole more and more of her mind and memories, the lyrics of her beloved hymns remained with her. Even in the end when words failed her, she continued to hum along in alto or high tenor. She was known for her delicious Swedish Rye Bread and Swedish Tea Rings, which her grandchildren called “Grandma Cake.”Lorraine was a beautiful seamstress, sewing several wedding and bridesmaid dresses and even a down jacket with her son David. She was on a bowling league for many years and enjoyed playing cards. She was also an avid Twins fan. Lorraine is survived by her brother, Kenneth (Lorraine) Swenson; her children, James Elmquist, David (Colleen) Elmquist, Barbara (Mark) Gustafson and Scott (Nancy) Elmquist; her grandchildren, Sarah Squires, William Elmquist, Amy (Erik) Hartsoch, Eric (April) Elmquist and Seth (Nicole) Elmquist; her great grandchildren, Ben, Jacob, Michael and Ellery Harstsoch and Madilynn, Miles and Mack Elmquist and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Willard, grandson David, sister Florence Erickson and brother Arnold Swenson, in-laws Alton Erickson, Kathryn Swenson, Walter & Hazel Johnson, Harold & Gladys Brandt and John and Muriel Elmquist. Lorraine trusted Christ Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was very active in Tripolis Lutheran and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches. She was kind and generous to all and a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be greatly missed. Blessed be her memory. A funeral service will be held at Tripolis Lutheran Church, Kandiyohi, MN on Friday, January 31st at 11:00. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Darlene passed away at St. Mary’s Care Center of Winsted on January 21, 2020.
Funeral Service: 2 PM Monday, January 27, 2020 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 4-7 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1 hr. prior to service at church on Sunday.
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery

Darlene was born on January 24, 1931 along with her twin sister Arlene at their parents’ home in Collins Township, McLeod County, Minnesota. Darlene was the daughter of Fred and Alma (Streich) Rannow. She was baptized that same day. Darlene was later confirmed in her faith at Zion Lutheran Church in West Lynn Township. Darlene grew up in Collins Township and graduated from the Hutchinson High School.
Darlene married Lester Strohschein on September 16, 1951, their marriage of 68 years was blessed with two children: Denton and Jody.
Prior to their marriage Darlene worked at the Triple D Café in Hutchinson. Following their marriage, she worked at Monson Bakery in Howard Lake, Green Giant in Cokato and the Howard Lake- Waverly-Winsted High School lunch program.
Darlene enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Camping, deer hunting, making cut out Christmas cookies, canning apples and pears from their fruit trees, also playing cards was always a highlight- you never knew who would be cheating the most. Darlene and Lester also spent a few months in Arizona in the winter to get away from the cold. She liked feeding the Cardinals in the back yard. She really enjoyed rice crispy bars and fudge striped cookies.
Darlene was a member of and served on the alter guild and funeral committee’s at St. James Lutheran Church. Church was very important to her, hardly ever missing a Sunday Service
She is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Alma Rannow, Husband Lester, brothers-in-law: Lawrence Strohschein, Jim Ryan, Myrle Wagner and Earl Wagner. Twin Sister Arlene Wagner and niece Pam Strohschein.
Darlene is survived by: Children, Denton (Janice) Strohschein and Jody Strohschein. Sisters-in-law: Gladys (Lawrence) Strohschein and Mildred (Jim) Ryan. Her sister Hildegard (Myrle) Wagner, three grandsons: Aric Strohschein, Aaron (Ashley) Strohschein, and Alan (Alyssa) Strohschein, Two great grandchildren: Ina and Owen. Nieces, Nephews and a host of other relatives and friends
Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Howard Lake and Cokato, Minnesota 320-286-2534