Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Richard Francis Smith of Howard Lake, passed away on June 23, 2019 at the Buffalo Hospital
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, June 29, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 1 Hr. Prior to service at church on Saturday
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery
Richard Francis Smith, was born on Sunday, September 28, 1924, in Howard Lake, Minnesota to Charles and Mary (Patrick) Smith. He grew up on a farm West of Howard Lake and graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1942. He went on to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, graduating in 1946. He served with the Merchant Marines in Australia and New Guinea during World War II.
Richard met Phyllis Mlinar of Spring Valley, Minnesota in Boston and married in 1955. To this union 3 children were born Carol, Richard, and Janet. The family made their home in the Ridgewood, New Jersey.
After the war, Richard worked in various aspects of the shipping industry. In 1962 he became a partner in the Sea King Corp. based in New York City. The company first operated a fleet of Liberty Ships and in the early 70’s added a fleet of tankers. In 1978, Crest Shipping Agency was formed and operated a steady fleet of 5 tankers trading worldwide. In the 90’s Crest was strongly involved in the Gulf War operation running a fleet of 10 Roll on Roll off vessels.
Throughout his life Richard enjoyed people and entertaining, traveling, gardening, and elk and pheasant hunting. One of his lifelong passions was downhill skiing with his family in Colorado and Switzerland. Richard retired 12 years ago to the farm in Howard Lake where he took up the hobby of making maple syrup. He was a member of the Masons and the American Legion.
Richard passed away of natural causes on June 23, 2019 at the Buffalo Hospital, Buffalo, Minnesota. He had reached the age of 94 years, 8 months and 26 days. Survivors include: wife Phyllis of Howard Lake, children: Carol M. Lehr (Joe Houghton) of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Richard J. Smith of Minneapolis, and Janet E. Smith of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nieces Carla, Molly, and Kaye Smith, Marlys Milbrandt and Christine Gustafson (Mark), and many grand nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary, brothers Vernon (Allegra) and James, sister Mary Milbrandt (Paul), and nephew Allyn Smith.

Marjorie Josephine Mattson of Cokato, passed away at Cokato Manor on June 19, 2019.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Elim Mission Church of Cokato
Visitation: 5-8 PM Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato
Interment: Lake Jennie Covenant Cemetery of Dassel.
Marjorie Josephine Mattson was born October 16, 1920, to Oscar Theodore and Josephine (Granlund) Peterson at Dassel, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lake Jennie Covenant Church. She grew up on a farm south of Dassel, Minnesota. She attended a country school and graduated from Dassel High School in 1938. After high school Marjorie went to Minneapolis where she was a nanny for a doctor’s family.
On February 24, 1944 Marjorie married Milton Mattson at the Lake Jennie Church. While Milton was in service the couple went first to Michigan and from there to Waterboro, SC, and then New Jersey. Once out of service they moved to Cokato.
Marjorie enjoyed: cooking, flowers and gardening, she loved to entertain friends and family, she was member of sewing club in Cokato. She was very active first at Lake Jennie Covenant Church and later Elim Mission Church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Marjorie passed away at Cokato Manor on June 19, 2019. She had reached the age of 98 years, 8 months and 3 days. Survivors include: her son Gayle Mattson of Dassel, daughters: Bernelle (Larry) Hansen of Cokato, and Barbara Price of San Diego, CA. Son-in-law Doug Conboy of Mora, MN. 10 grandchildren: Leslie, Spencer, Heidi, Breanna, Holly, Jenny, Lindsay, John, Jared and Alex; 22 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; Oscar and Jospehine Peterson, husband Milton, brother Lowell Peterson, daughter Beverly Conboy, son-in-law Jim Price, daughter-in-law Kathy Mattson, granddaughters Lara Packard and Heather Hansen, and great granddaughter Mazelle Davis.

Esther (Peterson) Kelly
Was born 101 years ago in Minneapolis, MN to Margaret and William Peterson and went to meet her maker on June 19, 2019 at the Cokato Manor in Cokato, MN. Esther had a sister Alice and brother Arthur. She graduated form South High School in Minneapolis January 1936. She married Arthur (Bud) Kelly July 3, 1937. They were blessed with two children Pat and Jim. In 1951 they moved from Minneapolis to Mound (Island Park). Esther worked at Tonka Toys in the office from 1953 to 1983. She belongs to the Mound American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW. Volunteered at the Senior Center for a number of years. She moved to Howard Lake in 2001.
Survived by daughter Patricia (Wayne) Diers of Howard Lake, MN and son James (Lejla) Kelly of Montrose, MN, 6 grandchildren, Richard Diers, Wendy Diers, Brian (Jane) Diers, Bruno Kelly, Jill (Dean) Wrobbel and Mike (Shannon) Diers, 14 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by husband Bud Kelly, grandson Patrick Kelly, parents, sister, Alice Almstedt and brother Arthur Peterson.
A celebration of life will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour before the service. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Isabella J Yager was born in Bowdoin Montana to parents Michael and Elizabeth (Fischer) Joa on March 18, 1921. At the age of 3 the family moved to Shotley MN and farmed on the shores of Upper Red Lake. She attended Shotley Brook School then graduated from Kelliher High School. Isabella attended college in Minneapolis and worked there until she was married to Myron Yager at St Stephen’s Catholic Church in 1948. This marriage was blessed with 3 children. For 36 years they operated a dairy farm north of Waverly. In retirement they enjoyed traveling and wintered in Pharr Texas for 17 years. They then moved to Cokato MN where Isabella passed away on June 17th 2019 at the age of 98 years 3 months. Isabella was an active member of the community. She was an active member of St Mary’s Catholic Church, she was a leader with the Marysville Merrymakers 4-H club for 14 years, an American Legion Auxiliary member for 70 years, involved with many community organizations, bowling league and card clubs. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, embroidery, puzzles and was an avid reader. Her family always came first in her life. She and Myron enjoyed their many years of ballroom dancing and play cards with friends. She is preceded in death by husband Myron in 2007, infant Son, her parents Mike and Elizabeth Joa, Father and Mother-in-Law Erwin and Emma Yager, sister Eleanora McCarthy, Sisters and Bothers-in-Law Howard McCarthy, Joyce Yager, Lorraine (Bill) Wood, Gloria Feik (Jack Gausman), James Fondel, and Nephew John Feik. She is survived by sons Roland (Debra) of Corcoran, Dennis (Jeannine) of Cross Lake, daughter Sharon (Brian) Arvold of Minneapolis, 7 Grandchildren, 7 Great grandchildren, Sister-in-Law Lilly Mae Fondel, nieces, nephews and host of family and friends. Pallbearers are Stephen Slater, Jessie Lesmeister, Craig Yager, Peter Jetson, Nathan Arvold, and Josh Arvold. Visitation at St Mary’s Church in Waverly on Monday June 24th from 4-8 PM with a 7:30 PM prayer service. Visitation to continue on Tuesday June 25th from 10:00 – 10:45 AM prior to 11 AM mass. Internment at the Howard Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, Minnesota.

Paul Hendrick Nevala of Cokato, passed away at Cokato Manor on June 14, 2019
Funeral Service: 11 Am Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church.
Visitation: 4-8 PM Wednesday, at the Church
Prayer Service: 7 PM Wednesday at Church
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery
Paul Hendrick Edward Nevala was born on April 15, 1930 to Leonard and Hinni Nevala at the home of his grandparents William and Matilda Alajoki in Blueberry Twp, Wadena County, Minnesota. He was the third of nine children. Paul spent his early adult years helping on the family farm until entering the US Army at the age of 26. He was a PFC (Private First Class) with a specialty of AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) Gun Crewman and received a good conduct medal.
Paul married Martha Erickson in November of 1959, and they made their first home in Minneapolis. Paul and Martha were blessed with 12 children. While living in Minneapolis and later in Maple Grove, he worked as a shipping and receiving foreman for Northrup King Seeds. Paul was called to serve as a minister in the Minneapolis congregation in 1977. When he was laid off from Northrup King Seeds in 1984, he accepted a call from the Cokato congregation to be their full time pastor, and moved his family to Stockholm, MN. During many of those years, he also worked at the Laestadian Lutheran Church office in Plymouth. In the early 90’s, when his wife Martha became ill, he faithfully cared for her until her death in 1995. A year after Martha’s death, he was remarried to Clara Kemppainen. He then spent his years of retirement in Brainerd and Cokato. Paul and Clara spent time traveling, visiting children and grandchildren.
Paul developed multiple hobbies and skills throughout his life. He was an avid deer hunter who fondly remembered the fellowship of hunting together with his family and friends. He had many stories of hunts with his father, his brother Peter, and cousins Elmer and Reuben Alajoki and their father Henry. He was an expert marksman who kept his family stocked with venison, and prepared delicious meals with the meat. Along with hunting, Paul enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He also enjoyed music and in his younger years, he sang at several occasions at the request of friends.
Paul is remembered by many congregation members as a soft-spoken servant of the Word with a good sense of humor. He joined in their family celebrations, serving them at baptisms, weddings and funerals. He is remembered by his children as a caring father who often waited at the kitchen table until they returned home, sometimes late into the night. He lived a life of moderation with simple needs, trusting that God would provide for each day. To the end, his most fervent wish was to remain a child of God and to make it to heaven.
Paul is survived by his wife Clara, by his children: David (Tarja) of Spokane, WA; Dorothy of Cokato, MN; Lauri (Denise) of Monticello, MN; Thomas of Cokato, MN; Judith Siltala (Wade) of Cokato, MN; Lisa Kinnunen (Tommi) of Cokato, MN; Richard (Kathryn) of Buffalo, MN; Erick (Cindy) of Big Lake, MN; Matthew (Anna-Mari) of Kiiminki, Finland; Jonathan (Michelle) of Sebeka, MN; James (Marjo) of Kemi, Finland; 44 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; sisters Thelma Lehto (Reino) of Clatskanie, OR; Miriam Nevala of Sebeka, MN; Maria Jarvi (Ray) of Sebeka, MN; Edna Skoog (Harvey) of Prescott Valley, AZ. sister-in-law Evelyn Nevala of Menahga, MN. Paul was preceded in death by his parents (Leonard and Hinni); his brother (Peter); three sisters (Naemi, Hinni and Nora); his first wife (Martha); son (Alan); grandchild (Kate Nevala); and great grandchild (Ellie Kinnunen).