Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Norman D. Gulson was born on April 19, 1935 in Howard Lake, Minnesota to Louis and Leona (Krohn) Gulso. Norman was baptized at St. James Lutheran Church on May 19, 1935, and Confirmed in his faith there on April 27, 1996. His confirmation verse was I John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us, God is love, Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Norman grew up on the family farm South West of Howard Lake, he has spent the last 16 years in the care of Mikkenen Homes of Cokato. He worked at Functional Industries doing many different tasks. He enjoyed: gardening and flowers, old movies (3 stuges and westerns) and liked to tease and crack jokes. He collected pens and hats, and did paper work.
Norman passed away at his home in Cokato on February 23, 2019. He had reached the age of 84 years, 10 months and 4 days. Survivors include his brother Stanley Gulso of Buffalo, Sister Jeanette (James) Barrett of Alexandria, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends
Norman was preceded in death by: his parents Louis and Leona.
Funeral Service: 2PM Thursday, February 28, 2019 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake.
Visitation: begins at church at 1pm on Thursday.
Spring interment: Howard Lake Cemetery.

Lester Strohschein of Howard Lake passed away at St. Mary’s Care center of Winsted on February 18, 2019.
Funeral Service: 2 PM Friday, February 22, 2019 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 4-8 PM Thursday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1 hr. prior to service at church on Friday
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery
Lester Fred Charley Strohschein, age 92, died peacefully surrounded by family on February 18, 2019, at the St. Mary’s Care Center in Winsted, MN. Lester was born on September 2, 1926, in Lydia (Scott County) MN to Arthur H. and Martha (Rotsolk) Strohschein.

Along with his twin brother Lawrence Strohschein, he was baptized at Immanual Lutheran Church, Fish Lake, MN in 1926 and was confirmed in his faith on March 17, 1940 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Watertown, MN.

Lester entered the Navy on August 31, 1944, and was honorably discharged on July 21, 1946. Following this, he attended Dunwoody Institute in the cabinetry program. Lester worked for ABC Cabinetry and also for Goebel Fixture Company in Hutchinson, MN for 35 years, retiring on March 22, 1989. Lester also made many kitchen cabinets for local people in the Howard Lake area.

Lester married Darlene Rannow on September 16, 1951. Their marriage of 68 years was blessed with two children, Denton and Jody.

Lester enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Camping, deer hunting, and taking his young grandsons fishing were a great joy for him. Every year for Christmas he brought a “new toy” made of wood—not just three, but a total of six. Playing cards was always a highlight—you never knew who would be cheating the most. He also filled his time with jigsaw puzzles and craft sales. He and Darlene also spent a few months in Arizona in the winter to get away from the cold.

Lester was a member of and served as an Elder at St. James Lutheran Church. A carpenter by trade, he helped with many projects in and around the church building—including the communion rails, pledge card box, the guest book podium, and the sign in front of the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Martha Strohschein; brothers-in-law Jim Ryan, Myrle Wagner, and Earl Wagner; and niece Pam Strohschein.

Lester is survived by his wife, Darlene; children Denton (Janice) and Jody; twin brother Lawrence (Gladys); sister Mildred (Jim) Ryan; sisters-in-law Arlene (Earl) Wagner and Hildegard (Myrle) Wagner; three grandsons, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Carolynn Marie Thompson Passed away on February 13, 2019 at Cokato Manor.
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church North of Cokato in French Lake Township
Visitation: 4-7 PM Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, and 1 hr prior to service at church on Saturday.
Interment: Grace Lutheran Cemetery
Carolynn Marie (Erickson) Thompson was born October 26, 1942 in French Lake, Minnesota to Della (Kotila) and Edwin Erickson. She grew up on the family farm and attended and graduated from the rural Lee School just a mile west of their farm place. She then attended Annandale High School where she graduated in the spring of 1960. Later that summer, she was married to David Thompson of Kingston, Minnesota. They resided locally, and Carolynn began her bookkeeping career working for various companies.

In 1966 Carolynn and David moved to California where Carolynn continued her bookkeeping career and David pursued further education. In 1967, Carolynn moved back to Minnesota where she began bookkeeping for her father in his lumberyard, then later worked for the Cokato Co-op for a number of years. Carolynn also was a co-owner and cook with her aunt Impie Olson, of the Log Cabin Café, a restaurant in Cokato. Carolynn was last employed by her brother Tim as bookkeeper for his asphalt plant in Sauk Center, Minnesota.

Carolynn enjoyed music, playing the piano (by ear) as well as the accordion for fun and for home Bible studies. She loved to listen to musical artists such as Patti Page and Elvis, and also enjoyed hymns, gospel, and big band music.

Carolynn was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of French Lake. She was a pianist, a Sunday School teacher, and helped organize the music for the church. She loved living in and being a part of the French Lake community. She loved her little red house in which she was raised and where she came back to live until she moved to Cokato Manor in 2008. Carolynn died at the Manor Wednesday evening, February 13th at the age of 76.

She is survived by her sisters Mary (Dan) Rinden of Cokato, and Therese (Jeff) Grumley of Rockford, IL; brothers Tim Erickson of Cokato, and Mark (Mary) Erickson of French Lake; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Carolynn was preceded in death by her parents: Edwin and Della Erickson; a brother, Gary Erickson; and a brother-in-law, Steve Hess.

Gertrude Weller passed away at her home North of Howard Lake on February 11, 2019.
Memorial Service: 2 PM Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Buffalo Community Assembly of God Church, 206 2nd Avenue NE, Buffalo, MN.
Visitation will begin at 1PM at Church.
Gertrude Helen Weller was born in Zumbrota, Minnesota, on January 26, 1940, to Frank and Lillian (Votava) Warn. She grew up in West St. Paul and attended school there. As a young girl, she spent summers on the Clifford Boeson (her cousin’s) farm.
She loved farm life and animals and named all the cows and pigs. She always wanted to be outside, usually in the garden picking and eating the harvest. When the gardening got to be too much, she’d get together with her brother Ed to enjoy the fruits of his gardening labor. She liked to sing along with the radio and dance at weddings. She loved people, talking with them and arguing with them. She was always right even when she was wrong. She was energetic and hated being trapped indoors. She had cabin fever all the time and would leave the house at any excuse, even the smallest errand.
Gertrude worked at the Buffalo Walmart for 20 years. She enjoyed working with everyone there. She went to one of the shareholder meetings in Bentonville, Arkansas, and met Mrs. Walton. According to Gertrude, she was a lovely lady.
Gertrude passed away at home north of Howard Lake on February 11, 2019. She had reached the age of 79 years and 25 days.
Survivors include husband Richard Weller; sons Frank Bulock and William Roth; daughter Marla Weller; grandchildren April and Travis; great-grandchildren Victoria, Rachel, Arianna, and Baylee; brother Ed Warn; stepchildren David (Carol) Weller, Kathleen Portz, Debbie Weller, and Brian Weller; and many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by daughter Dawn and stepson Bruce; sisters Alice and Irene; and second husband George Bulock.

Joanne Marlys Peterson, age 89, of Cokato died Saturday, February 9, 2019 in St. Cloud, MN with her family at her side.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they were written the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!” Psalms. 139:16
Joanne Marlys Peterson was born July 23, 1929 to Vernie and Irene (Larson) Nelson in her maternal grandparents’ farmhouse south of Cokato. She was baptized at the Stockholm Lutheran Church. In 1937 her parents moved their family to a farm north of Cokato. Joanne often remarked that she lived all but seventeen years of her life on that farm, which her son Larry now owns and runs.
Joanne was confirmed in the Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church and graduated from Cokato High School in 1946 at age sixteen. She began a lengthy and rewarding office career at age seventeen when she moved to Minneapolis with her sister, Maejelle, to work as a typist for Amundson Letter service.
She married Ralph D. Peterson on June 30, 1951 at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church. While Ralph was in the army, the couple lived in Arlington, Virginia. During those years Joanne worked for an insurance company just three blocks from the White House until their first child, LaDonna was born.
The couple eventually returned to Minnesota and resided in Minneapolis, where Joanne worked in the Medical Arts building for physician C. M. Larson, Chief of Staff of the Swedish Hospital.
In 1964 they moved to the farm where Joanne grew up. Joanne then worked for C&H Ag Service in Cokato for twenty-four years as an accountant and office manager. She retired from that position in 1996.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
Joanne was known for her work ethic. In addition to working full time, raising a family, and keeping a spotless home, she drove tractors and performed other farm work as needed.
Joanne was fiercely protective and proud of her family. She loved taking care of her special-needs grandson, Dean, whenever she was needed. Through many years of heart-health problems she would remark, “I have to keep going for my Deanie.” She also enjoyed baking, cooking, and trying new recipes. She combed through magazines and newspapers looking for recipes and, in fact, the day before she passed she clipped two recipes she wanted to try. She also read her well-worn Bible daily.
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
Joanne is loved and missed by daughters LaDonna (Scotty) Wylie and Cynthia (Daryl) Pischner, sons Alan Peterson (special friend Joan Breczinski), and Larry (Kris) Peterson; five grandchildren, Kari (Jeremy) Wylie Johnston, Joshua (Jody) Wylie, Jonathan Pischner, Katie Peterson, and Dean Peterson; four great-grandchildren, Payton and Gracee Johnston and Tanner and Tyler Wylie; and sister, June Frieberg, of Red Wing.
Joanne was preceded in death by her husband in 2014, her parents, brother, Dean, and sister, Maejelle.
The funeral service will take place on Thursday, February 14 at 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. Internment will be at the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Cokato. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 13 at 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and again one hour prior to services at the church.
Arrangements were by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com.
“Well done, good and faithful servant… come and share in your Master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21