Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Hall, Edgar Emery Jr. “Skip,” age 78, of Annandale, MN, formerly of Golden Valley, MN, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, overlooking Lake Sylvia, on Saturday, October 7, 2023, after two years of living with cancer. He will be greatly missed by his loving family. Wife of 52 years, Cathie; children, Britt Hall Stroup, Tucker (Emily) Hall; grandchildren, Emery John “E.J.”, Clara, Naomi and June; sister, Cindy Hall (Foster Raundy); and loyal black lab, Lucy Lu.

Skip graduated from Golden Valley High School where he was a five-sport athlete. He went on to play football at Carleton College where he graduated with a degree in government. Skip was an inspiring teacher and coach in the Golden Valley School District. He went on to become president of Flour City Welding and Manufacturing in Minneapolis. Skip was a dedicated girls fastpitch coach, helped launch the Hopkins Girls Fastpitch Association and was a volunteer coach with the Annandale girls fastpitch program. He was active in the community as a member of the Annandale Lions.

Skip was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, ski trips with family and friends, and was passionate about pheasant hunting in Parkston, SD, with his labs: Heidi, Kirby, Easy and Lucy Lu.

Skip especially cherished spending time with his wonderful family and treasured friends…

Celebration to be held at a later date. Memorials preferred to American Cancer Society or donor’s choice.
www.swansonpeterson.com Cokato, MN (320) 286-2534

Marjorie Suzanne Steward was born on October 24, 1925 to Leonard and Ruth Kriesel Youngquist, who farmed near Somerset, Wisconsin. Marjorie and her older brothers, Alan and Glen, attended country school and the Emmanuel German Lutheran Church until their parents purchased a farm near Stillwater, Minnesota. They also attended country school there before graduating from Stillwater High School. Visiting the Youngquist farm to buy fresh produce was known as a fine way for St. Paul residents to spend a Sunday afternoon. From an early age, Marjorie enjoyed farm animals and especially loved dogs and her pet rooster.
She graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she majored in Elementary Education, sang in the Lutheran Campus Church choir and ushered at Northrup Memorial Auditorium concerts. Marjorie met Roderick Steward, an entomology graduate student, at a Coffman Memorial Union ballroom dance. The reception following their 1947 wedding was held at the Youngquist farm. She was saved at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church and taught at Robbinsdale elementary school while Rod completed graduate school. They moved to Nevada, Iowa for Rod’s sales job in agricultural chemicals. They attended University Baptist Church in Ames until a business opportunity led them to found Steward Farm Chemicals in Mason City, Iowa. They helped grow Grace Baptist Church there and helped establish Clear Lake Baptist Church. When business conditions changed, Rod, Marjorie and their four sons moved to Cokato, Minnesota as the central location for his work as a barn equipment salesman.
After an industrial accident ended Rod’s agricultural sales career, Marjorie returned to work as a Cokato Elementary School first and second grade schoolteacher. She also accompanied the First Baptist Church choir as organist for several years and taught Sunday school classes. Most summers included visits to the family’s Northwoods lake cabin but only after gardening tasks had been completed and the garden was in good order. Marjorie retired from teaching after 20+ years, leaving a host of Cokato students who received excellent grounding in reading, writing and arithmetic as well as a good example in manners, politeness and respect for others.
Marjorie/Mom passed into her eternal rest and joy with the Lord she faithfully served on October 10, 2023. We thank God that her last moments on this earth at Lakeside before her heavenly homegoing were peaceful. We treasure her unwavering Bible study, faith in God, dry sense of humor and dedication to her family. We are thankful to God for her many gifts, always cheerful spirit, love of music, flowers and learning. She was steadfast in testifying to God’s faithfulness and goodness in all things – including the trials He saw her through as His faithful child. We rejoice that she has entered into the rest and eternal life of joy promised to those who accept the salvation that is only available through Jesus Christ.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Ruth Youngquist, brothers Allan and Glen Youngquist, husband Roderick, daughter-in-law Shelley, great-grandson William and nephew Steve Youngquist. She is survived by her four sons Mark/Lori, Tom/Colleen, Dan/Ann and John, nephew Eric Youngquist, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent in her name to her favorite organization, The Voice of the Martyrs.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 19, 2023 with visitation 1 hour prior to services at the First Baptist Church of Cokato. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, MN 320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Inez Ruth Johnson, 95, of Minnetonka passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Good Samaritan Care Center in Howard Lake.
Inez was born on June 10, 1928 in Deer Creek, Minnesota to Walfred and Julia Johnson. Inez was the fourth of five daughters.
Inez started her career in banking in Deer Creek. She later worked as a teller at Wadena State Bank where she felt she had the opportunity to really learn the banking business. She took this knowledge to Minneapolis where she worked at Franklin National Bank and was involved in the founding of Park National Bank. She remained at Park National in the position of Vice President until her retirement.
Inez was witty, intelligent, and compassionate. She loved travel, time with family and friends, and her beloved horses and dogs. She was a gracious, loving, and generous aunt to her nine nieces and nephews.
Inez had a strong Christian faith. She was an active member in her home church in Wayzata where she participated in Bible Studies, The Compassion Circle, and the church auctions. She was very supportive of both local and foreign missions.
Inez is preceded in death by her parents, Walfred and Julia Johnson, and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Mildred (Arnold) Peterson, Elsie (Clarence LaVern) Lekander, Elma (Edmond) Aho, and Lila Johnson as well as nephews, Steven Aho and Mark Lekander and niece, Julie Haak.
Inez is survived by her six nieces and nephews: Carol Gedde, Paul (Eileen) Peterson, Thomas Peterson, James (Sandra) Peterson, Susan Gronseth, and Joel Aho.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake on October 21st at 11:00 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Pastor Paul Koch will be officiating.

Debra (Debby) Ann Dahl, of Cokato, passed away at her home on October 4th, 2023 from natural causes at the age of 69.
Debby was born July 13th, 1954 in Coos Bay, Oregon to Raymond and Betty (Trahan) Barnard. She and her husband of 50 years, Keith, were married in Gold Hill, Oregon. In 1980 they moved to Maple Lake, Minnesota where they made their home and raised their three sons. Debby had a variety of jobs over the years where she made friends and demonstrated a strong work ethic. Her last job before retirement was at Honeywell where she would print and perform quality assurance on circuit boards for different computer applications.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Raymond and Betty Barnard; brother Dennis; sister Patty; nephew James Carter; mother and father-in-law Ruth and Virgil Dahl Sr.; niece Sherry Bosma; sister-in-law Sheila Clayborn; brothers in law Kurt and Bruce Dahl, Richard Bosma; and great nephew Derek Engelke.
Debby is survived by her loving husband Keith; sons: Shayne (Susie) of Clearwater, Tim (Alyssa) of Monticello, and Travis (Jenny) of Kingston; grandchildren: Damien, Vanessa and Sommer; sisters in law: Deloris, Evelyn (Edwin), Nancy and Bette; brothers in law: Gary and Virgil Jr.; many nieces, nephews, and great nieces/nephews.
Per Debby’s wishes no services will be held at this time. Her care has been entrusted to Swanson Peterson Funeral Home. www.swansonpeterson.com. Additionally, her family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at St. Croix Hospice.

Mike passed on September 21, 2023. He was born to Baultis and Eleanor (Schoen) Ackerman on July 23, 1943, in Watkins MN, the youngest of seven children. Mike graduated from Kimball High School in 1961. In February 1964, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three years in the Army Med Corps as a Med Reports and Records Tech and Med Evac Specialist and attained the rank of Sergeant. Mike worked for an industrial finance company after discharge from the Army and met his wife Mary in Minneapolis in April of 1967. Mike and Mary (Mahal) were wed in St. Anne’s Church in Wabasso MN on October 12, 1968. They moved to Cokato, MN from St. Paul in early summer 1971. Their son Javen was born August 10, 1974.

Mike enjoyed competitive trap and black powder shooting, golf, photography, and was involved in Community Theater for over thirty years.
Mike believed in giving back to the community and soon after moving to Cokato became a member of the Cokato Chamber of Commerce. He served as Secretary and also as President. Mike volunteered for the Cokato Corn Carnival for forty-six years, including nine years as Corn Carnival Chairman. In 2003 Mike was recognized for dedicated service to the carnival. He served for many years on the Community Chest Board, the Historical Society Board, and served one term on the City Council. Mike also was a member of Cokato American Legion Post 209 and served for 6 terms as Finance Officer and several terms as Post Commander. He was recognized for dedication and leadership by Post 209 in 2014. He also served on the Post 209 Honor Guard. He volunteered to be a member of the DC High School football chain gang for 37 seasons. Most recently, he served on the Village Ranch Board of Directors. Mike and Mary were Grand Marshalls for the 2014 Corn Carnival Parade and Mike was named 2017 Citizen of The Year by the Cokato Chamber of Commerce.

Mike is survived by Mary, his wife of nearly 55 years, his son Javen (Erin) and grandchildren Thessaly, and Torbin, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Berenice, Dorothy, Laura, Janice, Barbara, and his brother Baultis Jr.

A visitation will take place from 4-6 with parish prayers at 6:30 pm on Monday, October 2, 2023 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, MN and continue 1 hour prior to an 11:00 memorial mass at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin, MN on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Mike’s preferred charity, Believet Canine Service Partners (believet.org) or a charity of your choosing. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com