Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Berg, Kevin Lindsey
age 63, of Winsted and formerly Cokato, passed away December 17, 2020. He was born on December 23, 1956 in Cokato, MN to Ferdinand and Mavis (Johnson) Berg. He was confirmed and baptized at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato and graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1975.
Kevin was a fantastic volleyball player who enjoyed photography and had a knack for the computer and electronics. He also cared for and was a dedicated dog owner.
Preceded in death by his parents, brother, Julian, infant brother, Henry C. and niece, Whitney Berg.
He is survived by his brothers, Paul, Henry (Joyce), Stanley (Nancy), and Jeffrey (Rita), along with several other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 21, 2020 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremations Services in Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

James Deiter, age 81, left this life on Tuesday, December 8th at his home in Howard Lake, Minnesota. With him were Nancy, his wife of over 58 years and other family.

He was born in Redfield, South Dakota on June 19, 1939 to Clarence and Malinda Deiter. Raised on a farm near Frankfort, South Dakota, he attended the Rosebud school through 8th grade. His high school years were spent in Frankfort where he graduated in 1957.

In 1961 he moved to Benson Minnesota where he met Nancy Dokken, his wife to be. They married in 1962 spending the next 7 years on the family farm near Frankfort. During those years, Robin and William were born.

In 1969 they moved to Minnesota where they remained the rest of his life. A son Jason was born in 1973 and for the last 42 years they lived in Howard Lake.

“Jim” worked for Eaton Corporation in Eden Prairie for 32 years, retiring in 2001. His favorite hobbies were fishing, hunting and country music. He taught himself to play a guitar and passed it on to his children. His greatest pleasure was his family and he worked his whole life to care for them.

Preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Malinda Deiter, sister Marian West, parents-in-law Garfield and Jonnette Dokken and his sister-in-law Gretchen Hellie. He is survived by his widow, Nancy, his children, Robin, William(Carol), and Jason(Sheri). He is further survived by grandchildren Dana Deiter, Jeremiah Smith, Ellie Deiter, Chase Deiter, Sabrina Hill and Joseph Hill, 9 great grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 14th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake beginning at 11am. Visitiation at 10am. Internment will be in the spring at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield, SD near his parents. Memorials may be directed to Ridgeview Hospice or the music department at St. John‘s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake, MN. The family was served by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Homes of Howard Lake.

Gene Allen Spurzem age 46, of Rosemount, MN passed away Friday, December 4, 2020 at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. He was born December 11, 1973 in Robbinsdale, MN to Ray and Arlene (MacDonald) Spurzem. Gene grew up north of Cokato and graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1993. He was a truck driver for 20 years.
Gene very much enjoyed people, as well as camping, cooking, working on cars, motorcycles, and scooters. He raised miniature horses and enjoyed the Minnesota State Fair.
Survived by his daughter, ShyAnne Spurzem, parents, Ray and Arlene, sister, Toni Stone, twin brother, Terry (Stacy) Spurzem, 4 nieces, 5 nephews, one great niece, and special friend, Lynette Endres and children.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, MN 320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Jeanette passed away peacefully in Buffalo, MN on December 3, 2020, due to complications from a recent diagnosis of cancer. She passed away with her children by her side.

The family will hold a celebration of life service in honor of Jeanette, at a later date in spring 2021 in South Dakota. Jeanette’s final resting place will be with her husband Ted, at the Ortley Cemetery in Ortley, SD.

Jeanette was born on October 30th, 1945 to her parents Rose Ann and Reinhard Tesch in Webster, South Dakota. She was baptised at Zion Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD. Jeanette and her family lived on a farm north of Waubay. She spent her summers working at her family’s resort on Lake Minnewaska near her family’s farm. Jeanette went to Waubay Country School, then Waubay High School where she later met her husband Selmer (Ted) Utne at a Basketball game there.

Jeanette and Selmer (Ted) were united in marriage on April 4, 1964, at Zion Lutheran Church in Waubay. The couple made their home in Minneapolis, MN after marriage. To this union three children were born; Paul, Lisa, and Julie. Jeanette and Ted moved to Howard Lake, MN in the 1960’s where Jeanette worked as a school cook, at St. James Lutheran School for many years. She was a part of the Howard Lake Women’s Auxiliary, Bowling Leagues, and spent countless hours at the Howard Lake Fire Dept. with other fireman wives.

Jeanette and Ted relocated back to their home town of Waubay, SD to build their dream log cabin home on Blue Dog Lake, in 1993. She became a substitute school cook at the Waubay Public School. She enjoyed seeing students everyday, and she loved to use her cooking skills to keep everyone happy and full. Jeannette was apart of the Waubay’s Women’s Auxiliary, Bowling leagues, Waubay’s Senior Citizens Center as a cook, Nutrition Center in Webster as a cook, and many card leagues throughout the week.

Jeanette was known as a very generous, kind, and caring woman. Her house was always open to fisherman, hunters, family, and friends. She loved to have her house full of guests, made sure no one left hungry, and always made everyone feel welcome. Jeanette kept herself busy by doing many things she enjoyed. She loved cooking, baking, playing cards, Bingo, and driving to watch buffalo graze near her home. Jeanette also loved to go out fishing, attend her church’s bible study, travel with her sister, and receive phone calls from family and friends.

Jeanette will be forever loved and greatly missed by her son; Paul (Jodi) Utne of Howard Lake, MN, daughters; Lisa (Mark) Koller of Howard Lake, MN, and Julie (Darin Manthie) Utne of Annandale, MN. She will also be greatly missed and never forgotten by her 10 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and her 2 great-grandchildren on the way. She leaves behind her sister; Linda (Pat) Lee of Sioux Falls, SD, Brother; Lawrence Tesch of Hot Springs, SD, and many other extended family members and friends.

Jeanette is preceded to death by her parents, husband, and brother.

“You may be gone from my sight, but you will never be gone from my heart. I may not be able to see your face, but I will always see your sweet smile. I may never hear your voice again, but you will forever echo in my soul.” — Henry van Dyke

Ralph Clarence Lundeen of Cokato, Minnesota, passed away on November 29, 2020 at the age of 90 at his home in Cokato surrounded by the loving care of his family.

Ralph was born in Cokato on August 12, 1930, to Clarence and Margaret Lundeen. He was the eldest of four children. He attended school through eighth grade and then worked at the family farm.

Ralph served in Korea (1952-1954) in the 45th Division 180th Tank Co. He was a tank gunner at “Heartbreak Ridge” who made time to assist the chaplain, encouraging troops on the front line. Also during his time in Korea, he completed his GED. After the war, Ralph returned to Cokato and on August 26, 1955 married Margaret Ann (Peggy) Nyquist. They were blessed with 65 years of marriage, eight children, 17 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.

In 1957 Ralph invested in a commercial sewing machine and started an upholstery business. He built his business by word of mouth and by going door to door from Delano to Litchfield, Annandale to Hutchinson. Soon Ralph started selling furniture and floor covering. Lundeen Furniture and Upholstery was an integral part of a thriving downtown business community in Cokato from the sixties through the eighties. He was involved in starting the Cokato Ambulance Service in 1977 and served as its first director.

Ralph was a longtime member of Elim Mission Church and served in many capacities throughout the years. He lived his life serving others. His many acts of love and kindness were often known only to those he served. Ralph numbered his days well serving God and others and had a heart of wisdom.

Ralph is survived by his wife Peggy; children Becky (Dan) Bravinder, Vicky (Paul) Neighbors, Randy (Phyllis) Lundeen, Patty (Spencer) Olson, Joel (Lisa Mae) Lundeen, Cheryl (Mike) Mabin, David Juntunen; grandchildren Derek Bravinder, Alicia Walkes, Andrea Wilson, Seth Bravinder, Jonathan Neighbors, Reid Neighbors, Emily Dresow, Anna Neighbors, Whitney Malovrh, Amanda Lundeen, Rebecca Lundeen, Alex Lundeen, Joshua Olson, Kassandra Shimotsu, Michael Lundeen, Brianna Lundeen, Remii Juntunen; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Kenneth Lundeen, sisters Betty Dahlin, Kay Stenberg, and son Richard Lundeen.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Highland Community Church in Cokato, a live stream will be available.