Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Irene Dorothy (Blanchette) Strey was born in Smith Lake, Minnesota to Charles Albert and Lorna Paula (Elfman) Blanchette, on August 23, 1931. She grew up in the Howard Lake area. After attending High School, she went to work as a nanny for the Dayton Family, and also at Cokato Green Giant Cannery where she met her husband of 66 years, Elroy Stanford Strey.
They settled on a dairy farm North of Cokato, raised their family of 1 son and 5 daughters, and farmed until their retirement. Irene enjoyed needle work, and playing games. She was a wonderful baker and a member of the Church of Christ in Dassel, Minnesota.
Irene passed away at Abbott Northwestern Hospital of Minneapolis on July 15, 2018. She had reached the age of 86 years, 10 months and 23 days.
Irene is preceded in death by: Her parents Charles and Lorna Blanchette, sisters Ida (Tony) Entinger, and Betty Blanchette, and son-in-law; Larry Melinsky.
Survivors include: Husband Elroy of Cokato, son Steve (Jan) Strey of Fair Haven, five daughters; Linda Melinsky of South Haven, Vickie (Jeff) Murphy of Osseo, Connie (Tim) Peterson of Cokato, Dawn (Kevin) Gode of Ottertail, and Pamela (Rahn) Ortquist of Cokato. Two granddaughters, Melissa (Scott) Berglund of Superior, Wisconsin, Cassondra (Derek) Wohlers of Clearwater. Grandsons: Michael (Erin) Strey of Kasota, Calen (Robin) Ortquist of Litchfield and Cade Ortquist of Cokato. Great grandson: Vander Strey, 3 nieces, 3 nephewss other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service: 11 AM, Friday, July 20. 2018 at The Dassel Church of Christ.
Visitation: 1 hr. prior to service at the church
Interment: Riverside Cemetery.

Harold Albert Blanchette, age 77, of Howard Lake, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018 at his home in Howard Lake. Harold was born in Howard Lake, MN on April 18, 1941, the Son of Leo and Florence (Mielke) Blanchette. He was a lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church where he was baptized on May 4, 1941 and confirmed on April 3, 1955. As a member of St. James, he served on several boards. Harold and Karen Blanchette began their 56 years of married life on December 23, 1961. They were blessed with two sons, Harold Blanchette Jr. and Darrin Blanchette Sr.

He is survived by his wife, Karen, two sons, Harold (LuAnn) Blanchette Jr., and Darrin Blanchette, Sr., grandchildren, Daisy Blanchette, Darrin (Ariel) Blanchette Jr., and Lilyann Blanchette, brother Virgil (Georgiene) Blanchette, sisters, Judy (Vern) Rasmussen, and RuthAnn Blanchette, and mother in-law, Marie Longfors, brother’s in-law, Robert (Rachelle) Schultz, Wayne Schultz, and Harold (Michelle) Schultz, and sister’s in-law, Marilyn Schultz and Judy Hassenstab. Preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Florence (Mielke) Blanchette, and sister, Eileen Olcott.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday, and from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Howard Lake.

Aune Nordlund passed away at the Cokato Manor on 6-21-2018. Survivors include her son Gary of Cokato and Daughter Mary Senness of Washington.
Visitation: 9-10 AM Thursday, June 28, 2018
Graveside Service: 10 AM Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.

Ralph A. Wessman, age 82, of Sun City, AZ, and Cokato, passed peacefully into the Lord’s presence Saturday, March 24, 2018, after an eight-year battle with cancer.
He was born May 28, 1935, in Cokato, to Joseph and Lillian (Ekstrand) Wessman, the fifth of six children.
After graduation, Ralph enlisted in the US Navy and served as a radio man on airplanes and aircraft carriers during the Korean War. He remained in the Navy Reserves for an additional six years after his initial two-year deployment to the Mediterranean, and received two medals for his military service.
Ralph married Maureen Young of Stockholm Township Feb. 15, 1958, at the end of his active duty. Together, they raised five children, Todd, Kerry, Brent, Bethel and Sara.
Although he studied to become a teacher in college, Ralph pursued business with Jack Frost/Gold’n Plump in St. Cloud, eventually serving as the president/CEO. He retired in 1987.
In retirement, Ralph enjoyed woodworking, golf, and travel. Those around him were familiar with his good sense of humor, love of practical jokes, and fun.
Ralph was active in his community. He was a member of the Dassel-Cokato School Board, and served as chairman for a number of years. He was also involved in Cokato Charitable Trust, and in leadership with Central Minnesota Youth for Christ.
Ralph and Maureen hosted Campus Life meetings for high school students in their home for many years.
While a strong supporter of missions, Ralph, upon leaving the business world, became more personally involved, using his management experience to help develop the Jesus Film project/church planting project for Romania in the 1990s. Both he and Maureen spent a number of months living in Romania as this program developed. Campus Crusade for Christ ultimately used the template he helped create for the Jesus Film campaign in several other countries.
Ralph was a lifelong member and actively involved in leadership in his home church, Elim Mission Church in Cokato, as well as active in his adopted church, Grace Bible Church, Sun City, AZ, where he and Maureen wintered for more than 20 years.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Maureen; and children: Todd (Sarah) Wessman of Peoria, AZ, Kerry (Tom) Nelson of Cokato, Brent (Rebecca) Wessman of Annandale, Bethel (Mark) Vatsaas of Parker, CO, and Sara (Dana) Beuning of Sauk Centre; two sisters, Ruth Lundeen of Plymouth, and Janet Fusco of Elk Grove, CA; as well as 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ralph is missed greatly, but, thankfully, he is no longer in pain, and at home with the Lord, whom he loved and faithfully served all of his life.
A Celebration of Life service for Ralph and his wife Maureen, will be held Sunday, July 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Elim Mission Church, Cokato. Visitation will be at Swanson Peterson Funeral on Saturday, July 14th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with sharing and a time of reflection at 6:30 p.m.

Maureen Wessman, 79, passed away at her home in Cokato on May 21, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, a few short months earlier on March 24, 2018 in Sun City, Arizona.
Maureen Jane Young was born February 26, 1939 in Hutchinson, the first of five children and the only daughter to Donald and Doris Young. The Youngs owned a farm in Stockholm Township and later in Lamson. Her brothers recall their sister often playing the piano at home, spending a lot of time with school friends and doing her best to keep her younger brothers in line, despite her gentle nature. She attended country school at Dahl School until 6th grade, participated in 4-H Club, and was active in music groups at Cokato High School, where she graduated in 1957. Maureen was confirmed at Stockholm Lutheran Church.
Maureen married Ralph Wessman on February 15, 1958 at Dassel Covenant Church. The couple lived in Minneapolis until returning to Cokato in 1960 where they would settle for the rest of their lives. Together they raised five children, Todd, Kerry, Brent, Bethel and Sara. Maureen was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother. In the early years while raising young children, she tended to the egg business they had at their farm, under the Jack Frost/Gold’n Plump umbrella. In 1985, Maureen went back to school and received her LPN degree from St. Cloud Technical College.
Like her father, Maureen was an accomplished pianist, able to play any melody by ear. She often played hymns and other favorites on their piano at home. She was active in community and church, as a part of Ladies’ Aid at Elim Mission Church, Christian Women’s Club, volunteering at the Cokato Museum, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and hosting Campus Life meetings in their home for many years. Maureen exercised her gift of hospitality by graciously welcoming many into their home and serving them with her genuine caring spirit. She was a gifted seamstress – making clothes for her children, quilter, avid reader, and in recent years was quick to jump in and learn the game of Mahjong, making new friends whose lives she ultimately touched. Maureen loved the Lord and did not hesitate to share the love of Jesus to those she crossed paths with, even in the days when her disease found her in the hospital. No matter her own condition, she redirected the focus off of herself and on to others.
Those who knew Maureen well describe her as a sweet, soft-spoken, easy-going, gentle and humble woman with a servant heart who rarely complained, raised her voice, or even uttered a negative word.
Maureen traveled widely with her husband and wintered for over 20 years in their home in Peoria, Arizona. They both spent significant time in Romania in the 1990’s with the Jesus Film Project.
Maureen is survived by her five children: Todd (Sarah) of Peoria, AZ, Kerry (Tom) Nelson of Cokato, Brent (Rebecca) of Annandale, Bethel (Mark) Vatsaas of Parker, Colorado and Sara (Dana) Beuning of Sauk Centre, 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three brothers, Mark Young of Tempe, AZ, and Bradley Young and Delmond Young, both of Cokato.
A Celebration of Life service for Maureen and her husband, Ralph, will be held Sunday, July 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Elim Mission Church, Cokato. Visitation will be at Swanson Peterson Funeral on Saturday, July 14th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with sharing and a time of reflection at 6:30 p.m.