Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Helen L. Nyquist of Howard Lake, MN, died on September 7, 2018, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Helen was born June 6, 1935, in Olivia, MN, to Caroline H. (Duehn) and Thomas E. Kirkpatrick during the Great Depression. It was a particularly hot drought year in which her mother herded cattle along the nearby railroad track to supplement small feed rations. Despite the depression, Helen had a rich and full youth participating in 4-H, musicals and plays, piano and organ playing, and ruckus gatherings with relatives and neighbors. Of course, trips to the library and reading were always important to her.

As a 1956 graduate of Swedish Hospital School of Nursing, she worked as a nurse at Swedish Hospital, Buffalo Hospital, Meeker County Memorial Hospital, Cokato Hospital, and the office of Drs. Houtz and Johnson. She loved her time as a nurse, especially working in the preemie nursery and fishing pills out of elderly mens’ beards who asked her to marry them.

She met the love of her life, Daniel W. Nyquist, at a church ice skating party. It was love at first sight. They married on September 4, 1959, and had four children: Mark Allen, Caroline Ruth (who died in infancy), David Eric, and Naomi Ruth. After Naomi was born, she retired from nursing and pursued many other adventures from being a farm wife and giving talks on how to care for sick baby calves, to teaching piano and working at local libraries. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, gardening, writing, and reading quality children’s literature out loud. She cherished her time attending music lessons and practicing with grandchildren. Above all, she was not afraid to speak her mind on topics of religion, politics, and the use of proper grammar, being especially fond of the Oxford comma. Finally, she wrote in preparation for her obituary, “Whoever writes this up can say I loved the Lord and trusted Him as my righteousness. I had no righteousness of my own.”

Survivors include her husband, Dan, her children, Mark, David (and Mariana), and Naomi (and Patrick); her adoring grandchildren, Corrie, Christina, Clarissa, Estera, Oliver, Aunne, Ezra, and Eleanor; and many relatives, friends, neighbors, and pastors. The family is especially grateful for Hutchinson’s Allina Hospice team. A simple graveside service was held on September 10 at Cokato Cemetery.

Date of Birth: April 24, 1926: Kinnula, Finland
Date of Death: September 4, 2018: Litchfield, MN

Services:
6 pm to 7 pm visitation
7 pm Memorial service
Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church
September 7, 2018
Laina Tiainen Marjanen was born April, 24, 1926 in Kinnula, Finland. She was united in marriage to Pekka Tapani Marjanen on September 30, 1950 in Jyvaskyla, Finland. They were blessed with 68 years together. Pekka and Laina had five children; Juha Tapani, Tarja Helena, Heini Kaarina, Riitta Liisa and Jari Pekka. They spent the early years of their life in Finland, before moving to the United States. They lived in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Minnesota and Arizona.

Laina was a wife and mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed taking care of her home and her children. She enjoyed sewing, singing hymns of Zion, playing the organ, taking family road trips, going to the lake with the children, cross country skiing, sledding, skating and serving guests in her home.
Many of her grandchildren have fond memories of mummu teaching them how to sew or play the organ. She was loved by many and will be missed dearly.

She is survived by her husband Pekka; Chldren-Juha (Annette) Marjanen, Tarja (Joe) Brown, Heini Aho, Riitta Wuollet & Jari (Anita) Marjanen; 42 grandchildren and 118 great-grandchildren.

Marion Moberg, 94, passed away on August 16, 2018.
Marion was born on December 28, 1923 in Willmar, MN to Martin and Mabel Moberg. She graduated from Cokato High School in 1941 and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Minnesota in 1945.
After graduation, Marion taught Home Economics in Mora, Minnesota for 2 years before returning to Cokato to work as an accountant for the family car dealership, Moberg Motor company. She continued at this position for 37 years until the dealership was sold.
Marion continued to use her accounting skills by working for Covenant Retirement Communities in Florida and California for the next few years.
After retirement, Marion moved to the Twin Cities area where she taught ESL (English as a Second Language) to adults through Creekside Community Center in Bloomington.
Marion was active in the Elim Mission Church in Cokato, singing in the choir and teaching Middle school Sunday school classes. When she moved to the Twin Cities, Marion attended Bloomington Covenant church, where she helped with a card ministry.
Marion enjoyed knitting and made several beautiful sweaters for her nieces and nephews and their children. She also made them several beautiful quilts. From time to time, Marion would fish for sunnies and watch for loons and hummingbirds on Lake Sylvia at the family cabin. On a daily basis, she kept up with current events and enjoyed discussing them. With equal faithfulness, she completed crossword puzzles and read books, often passing her books on to others. Throughout her life, Marion traveled to Hong Kong, Tokyo and Mexico City, as well as various places around the United States. She loved the Lord and she enjoyed talking to people. She loved much and she was loved much. She will be missed here on earth, but she is rejoicing in heaven with Jesus and family members who have preceded her.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Mabel Moberg, her brother, Waldo Moberg and her nephew, Joe Moberg. She is survived by her sister, Audrey Anderson, her sister in law, Janet Moberg, nieces Connie Moberg and Carol Vandergon and nephews Brad and Mark Anderson, great nieces JoRae Stockdale, Jessica and Sarah Anderson, Kaylen and Jenna Vandergon and great nephews, Daniel and Benjamin Anderson and Joel Vandergon.
A celebration of Marion’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 14, 2018 at the Bloomington Covenant Church (10150 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55431) with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Kenneth Wayne Gausman was born in Howard Lake, MN on June 3rd, 1925 to Ervin and Violet (Robinson) Gausman. Soon after the family moved to the Albright’s area of Middleville Township, and this is where he spent his childhood. He graduated from Cokato High School in 1943, and immediately joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an aircraft mechanic until his discharge in May 1946. He then returned to the Cokato area, and worked at various jobs. On July 11th, 1953 he was united in marriage at Detroit Lakes to Martha Mischke of Frazee.
They lived in Oak Knoll, Navarre, and later Maple Plain. He was a long-time employee of the J.R. Clark Co. of Spring Park, and later worked many years as a mold repairman at Molded Products in Maple Plain.
They returned to the Cokato area in 1968 and have resided here every since, moving to Cokato Manor in June. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in July
His hobbies were taking road trips and metal detecting. He was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church of Dassel and of American Legion Post 145, Howard Lake
He passed away August 21rst 2018 at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife Martha, son Russell of Cokato, daughters Mary (Mike) Schmidt of Nelson, and Sharon (Manford) Peterson of Litchfield, four grandchildren, and eight great- grandchildren, one brother, Robert Gausman of Wayzata, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two half- brothers, Vern and Glen Jones, and a brother William Gausman. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Monday, August 27th, 2018 at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake with visitation 1 hour prior to services. Pastor Laurie O’Shea officiating, with internment at the Sylvan Cemetery, Middleville Township. Military rites were conducted by American Legion Post 145.

Leighton Willard Dahlquist, age 85, of Cokato, passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Lee was born on March 11, 1933 in Starbuck, the son of Eugene and Olive (Swenhaugen) Dahlquist. He was baptized and confirmed at the Minnewaska Lutheran Church in Starbuck, MN. He graduated from Starbuck High School in 1951. Lee enlisted in the United States Air Force and after 4 years, he was honorably discharged in 1955.
Lee married Maxine Kirkwold in 1957. They built a home in Richfield and had two girls. He worked for the US Postal Service in Minneapolis until he started at the Richfield Police Department in 1959. He retired on 1979.
Lee married Marilyn Norling in 1984 and moved to a hobby farm in Kingston. Lee was member of the American Legion Post 209 of Cokato and the Lions Club of Kingston. Lee served on the church board and was a long time head usher. He also served on the board of directors of the Cokato Historical Society.
He worked for the Dingmann Funeral Home and Swanson Peterson Funeral Home. He was an auctioneer during different times throughout his life and volunteered at special events.
Lee is best known during his later years as the Pie Boy. He delivered pies for Carlson Apple Orchard around the Cokato area and to his friends in nearby towns.
Lee loved to play basketball, watching sports, collecting license plates and collectible cars, camping, volunteering and having fun. Lee & Marilyn enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the Casino, where he got nickname “Lucky Lee”. It was there where they met many new people that grew into friendships.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Cokato, children Kathryn (Ken) Beckers, Karen (Steve) Miller, Randall (Maria) Wegner, Robert Wegner, Lori Wegner; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents.
A funeral service will be held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church 280 3rd St SE, Cokato on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 10:00 AM, with gathering of family and friends beginning at 8:30 AM. Interment will be at Fort Snelling on Monday, August 27, 2018.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com
Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice.