Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

William Allen Chaney, age 77, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Bill, as he wanted to be called, was born September 25, 1947 in Jamestown, North Dakota to William and Pauline (Bollinger) Chaney. In 1967, he moved to St. Paul to work for Twin City Testing. From there, he worked for NSP, now Xcel Energy.

Bill married Carin Reinke in 1968. Together, they had two sons, Chad & Aric.

Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, talking to anyone and a trip to Alaska.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Isom T. Chaney.

Survived by his wife, children Chad and Aric (Janine), siblings Donna Bennett, Jim Chaney and many nieces, nephews and friends.

While wintering in Foley, Alabama in 2017, Bill came to personally know and accept Jesus as his Savior. His wish is for all of you to accept Jesus as your Savior.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, April 3, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (7809 County Rd 35) in Annandale, Minnesota. Visitation one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Ruth Ann Williams, age 85, passed away March 19, 2025 at Lakeside Healthcare Center in Dassel, Minnesota.

Ruth was born in Minneapolis, MN on January 1, 1940 to Norris & Martha (Hill) Hanson. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and eventually married and lived in California for many years. She returned to Minnesota and lived in Minnetonka, where she had a career as a church secretary at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church. After she retired she moved to Dassel, MN to be closer to her son and his family.

Ruth loved gardening and enjoyed volunteering on the grounds committee at her condo community for many years. She also enjoyed singing, especially hymns and Christmas carols. She was an involved member of the Lamson Church in Dassel.

Ruth is survived by her son, Jim (Julie) Williams, brother Tom (Carol) Hanson and grandchildren Hannah and Michael Williams.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Warren Hanson.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Daniel Winston Nyquist, 88, of Howard Lake and Buffalo, MN, died on March 17, 2025, holding the hands of his loving wife, Jane Nyquist.

Dan was born on October 9, 1936, to Rudolf H. Nyquist and Ruth V. (Lindstrom) Nyquist, in Howard Lake (Cokato Township), on the same farmstead in which he worked his entire fruitful career as a farmer.

Dan began his education in a one-room country schoolhouse and graduated from Cokato High School in 1954. Drafted into the army, he rose to the position of Military Police, moving from a smoke-filled army barracks to his own room as the assistant to the chaplain and chauffeur to a general and foreign dignitary. After his army discharge, he married Helen L. Kirkpatrick, whom he met at a church skating party, on September 4, 1959. Together they had four children: Mark Allen, Caroline Ruth (who died in infancy), David Eric, and Naomi Ruth.

Besides farming, Dan found many joys and passions from helping those in need and giving encouragement to growing pumpkins, grapes, and large gardens. He especially loved planting trees. Some of the white pine he planted are now 90 feet tall.

An astute intellectual, Dan loved books, especially on the topics of history, economics, philosophy, and theology. He would engage anyone in lengthy conversations who might stop by the farm. He loved to salvage old things to remake them into something beautiful. He was a woodworker, runner, singer, and a connoisseur of classical music. Above all, Dan was a Godly man. He would self-deprecatingly say, “The Lord preserveth the simple.” We know that he has gone home and heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

After Helen died in 2018, Dan met Jane Johnson at a church grief group. They married in a “surprise” ceremony after a Sunday morning service at Albion Evangelical Free Church in Cokato on December 12, 2021. They enjoyed the most wonderful three years of marriage getting dirty, gardening, foraging, maple syruping, and simply having fun together.

Survivors include his wife, Jane, his children, Mark, David (and Mariana), and Naomi (and Patrick); his adoring grandchildren, Corrie, Christina, Clarissa, Estera, Oliver, Aunne, Ezra, and Eleanor; siblings, Dwight Nyquist (Marie) and Peggy Lundeen; and many relatives, friends, neighbors, and pastors. The family is especially grateful for the Allina Hospice team.

Services will be Friday, March 21, 2025 at Albion Evangelical Free Church (11480 5th Street NW, Cokato, MN) Visitation at noon; Service at 1:00, followed by a light lunch.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Paul Edward Olson, age 78, passed away March 12, 2025 in Lakeside, California.

Paul was born in Cokato, MN on July 6, 1946 to Ed and Irene Olson. He attended Stockholm School and Cokato High School; he graduated in 1964. Paul married Linda in San Diego, CA on July 3, 1971. They went on to have two daughters Kelly and Shelly and reside in Lakeside, CA.

Paul ended up with two careers in his life, one with the San Diego Police Department and the other with the United States Marine Corp. While he was in the Marine Corp, he served in Vietnam, Laos, Desert Storm and Haiti. Paul served a total of 30 years duty with the Marines. He was a San Diego Police Officer for 34 years.

Paul joined the San Diego Police Dept. in 1971. In the beginning, he was in patrol. He later went on to become a detective and served in Burglary, Robbery, Fencing, Homicide and Criminal Intelligence. He was also a Hostage Negotiator. Paul took it upon himself to learn Spanish and became a Bi-lingual officer so he could better serve the community. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University in Criminal Justice. Paul influenced his daughter’s and granddaughter to follow in his footsteps. Kelly, is a Division Chief with the San Diego County Probation Department. Shelly was an officer for the San Diego Police Department and granddaughter, Kira, is an officer on the Greenville, SC Police Department.

As many of you know, Paul was a collector of MANY things. Just a few of his collections included coins, Henry rifles, license plates, marbles and any Cokato memorabilia. Of course, we can’t forget his love for John Deere – any and everything John Deere! He loved being able to come back to the farm he grew up and most of all, he had a very special place in his heart for Stockholm.

Paul is survived by his wife, Linda, daughter Kelly (Aaron) Dodson, son-in-law George Luna, Grandchildren: Kira Dodson, Konnor Dodson, Austin Luna, Lilly Luna and Bella Luna, Sister Kathy Olson Studler and Brother Daniel Olson.

Preceded in death by his parents, daughter Shelly Luna, and sisters Judi Olson Martinson and Mary Olson Danielson.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday March 20, 2025 at Stockholm Lutheran Church, Cokato, MN. Visitation begins one hour prior.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Michael Allan Mattila, age 44, passed away peacefully with his wife and four daughters by his side in Highlands Ranch, Colorado on March 14th 2025. Mike was born January 14, 1981 in Litchfield, Minnesota to Gary and Nancy (Raisanen) Mattila. He graduated from Dassel Cokato High School with the Class of 1999. He married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie Mollet on April 30, 2005. They made their home south of Cokato and together were blessed with four daughters and would have celebrated their 20-year wedding anniversary this month.

Mike developed a passion for woodworking and was blessed to be able to spend his lifetime working in the carpentry industry. He took great pride in his craftsmanship. His strong attention to detail and creative ideas allowed him to create high quality and well-crafted products throughout his lifetime.

Mike was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed gardening, biking, fishing, hunting, camping and anything he could find to work on outside. He grew up deer hunting with his dad and brothers up north at a family cabin. He spent many fishing openers with his brothers and close friends on Lake Winnibigoshish. He shared his love of the outdoors with his family on countless camping trips to Cross Lake.

He also enjoyed golfing and for the past four years was able to mow for the Cokato Golf Course. Mike was also an avid Vikings fan.

Survivors include his wife Stephanie, children: Lauren, Erica, Kendra and Mallory. Mother Nancy Mattila and Father-in-law Rodney (Carol) Mollet. Siblings: Jeremy (Stacy), Kim (Steve) Parks, Karla (Dale) Hoikka, Shanna (Greg) Koivisto, Jason, Jill (Austin) Clarke, Derek (Ulla) and Holly (Will) Saul. Brother and Sister in Laws Tim (Cathy) Mollet, Sunshine (Dave) Devine, Shannah (Aaron) Kreller, Roddy Mollet, Josh (Jesse) Holly, Cody (Andrea) Holly and Jake Holly and countless nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Dad Gary and Mother-in-Law Nancy Lara and all of his grandparents.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Stockholm Lutheran Church in Cokato, Minnesota. Visitation to begin one hour prior.
Live Stream available at: https://www.stockholmlutheran.org/

Arrangements handled by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, Minnesota #320-286-2534. www.swansonpeterson.com