Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Thomas Arthur Krohn passed away February 13, 2024.

Thomas was born in Howard Lake, MN on June 3, 1938 to Arthur & Meta (Yager) Krohn.

He was a very kind man with a big heart. Thomas loved his family and was the best father to his daughter, Dawn. He had a great sense of humor and was always full of life. He loved everyone.

Thomas was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force.

He enjoyed cooking, gardening and was very active in the church.

Thomas is survived by his daughter Dawn Krohn, sisters: Rita and Mary, and brother Grant.

Preceded in death by his parents Arthur & Meta Krohn, brothers Jerry, Roland & Dale and sisters Ramona & Paulette.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN with visitation one hour prior.

Alta Mae Morris passed away on February 8, 2024.
She was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Lloyd and Marie (Pew) Ring on May 1, 1926. She lived in Ipswich, South Dakota, until she was 10 years old when her family relocated to the Cokato area. She attended school in Waverly, Howard Lake, and Cokato. After graduating from Cokato High School in 1944, she worked at Sears Roebuck in Minneapolis and at the Minnesota Valley Canning Company, the Northland Canning Company, and the Cokato Creamery, all in Cokato. She married Virgil Morris, a Cokato native, on May 9, 1946. She was married to Virgil for 67 years; he passed away in 2014. After a two-year stint in Tacoma, Washington, where Virgil was stationed at Ft Lewis, the couple moved to Waukegan, Illinois, where Virgil worked for American Can Company. Their two daughters, Phyllis Mae and Joanne Marie, were born in Waukegan. Tragically, Joanne passed away when she was five years old. In Waukegan, Alta Mae worked at American Can and American Steel Wire Companies before attending Mueller School of Beauty. She set up a beauty shop in her home in Waukegan and continued to work as a beautician after Virgil was transferred to Austin, Minnesota, in 1968. The family returned to Cokato in 1981 after Virgil’s retirement.
Alta Mae was a member of First Baptist Church in Ipswich, South Dakota, Trinity Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Illinois, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota, and Evangelical and Good Shepard Lutheran Churches in Cokato. She was active in the church, teaching Sunday School, preparing church bulletins mailings, and leading a group of volunteers in the church kitchen. In Cokato, she and Virgil participated in Community Chest, Meals on Wheels, and the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive. She also kept a beautician’s chair in her home in Cokato, dressing hair for friends. In her retirement, one of her favorite activities was visiting Jackpot Junction in Morton, Minnesota.
Alta Mae will be remembered by many friends for her positive attitude, boundless energy, and upbeat demeanor.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Alta Mae was predeceased by two brothers, Wallace Ring and Gene Ring. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Teryl Frey of Gainsville, Georgia, her grandson, Benjamin Frey and his wife Ashlee of Soldotna Alaska, sister Lois Hansen of Hutchinson.
Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at the Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato. Visitation will take place from 4-7 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue 1 hour prior to services at church.
The family wants to thank the community who have been so supportive.
www.swansopeterson.com 320-286-2534

Our beloved mom and wife sadly passed away on January 29, 2024 at Methodist Hospital surrounded by her loved ones. She fought a short, but brutal battle with colon cancer and took her last breath at age 70.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Kieth; children Christine (Matt) and Adam (Tammie); her much adored grandchildren, Josh, Nolan, Reilly and Jameson; her brother David (Sandy); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Family was the most important thing in the world to Karen and she treasured each and every moment that she was able to spend with both family and friends. She loved Kieth with all her heart and together they had countless adventures of travel, hiking, biking, quilting, cooking and camping.

Please see Karen’s CaringBridge site for service information.

John “Jack” Vigoren, of Minneapolis and Maple Plain, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024.

Jack was born to Roy and Evelyn Vigoren on August 6, 1947. One of seven siblings (six boys), Jack enjoyed a raucous upbringing along the banks of the Mississippi River. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1965 where he played football and enjoyed many high school friends.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota and, later, the William Mitchell College of Law. Through his years in law school he served as a police officer for the City of Saint Paul.

In the early 1980s he settled in Maple Plain, MN, a small town where he practiced law. He would eventually become mayor in 1996, after campaigning with a large sign with the message, “YES WE CAN GET A LIGHT OH HIGHWAY 12!” He pulled that sign through the streets of town with a tractor and a hay wagon. That turned out to be a winning strategy. He was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served as Choir Director for more than a decade.

Jack was known for his musicality, his gregarious and flirtatious personality, and a brusque indignation that you either loved or hated. Whether teasing his grandsons, telling a dirty joke, or playing a winning hand he always knew how to get a rise out of someone while making them smile. He lived life outspoken and unfiltered and encouraged those he loved to do the same.

Jack received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2017. With the help of the local Alzheimer’s Association and the Norman-dale Center for Healing and Wholeness he and his family were able to adjust to, and live with the disease.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Evelyn, his brother George, sister Janet Louise, and his beloved son Joshua.

He is survived by his wife Margie, son Luke, daughter Alena (Wesley) Fuhrman, daughter Tessa (Andrew) Silbernagel, and grandsons Harvey, Loudon, Roger, and Edgar. He is also survived by his siblings Gerald, Martha, Robert, Paul, and Doug, as well as a multitude of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. A private interment was held for immediate family at Riverside Cemetery near Annandale, MN. A memorial will be held by the family this summer on July 6, 2024.

Memorials may be directed to:
The Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness
6100 Normandale Rd
Edina, MN 55436

Or The Alzheimer’s Association at:
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=859689

Michael Lane Rohde, 46, of Clearwater MN left this life on January 23, 2024.

Michael was born on August 6, 1977. He is survived by Fiancé LeeAnn, children Paige and Nicholas, step children Treyton and Kamryn, Mother LaNell (Steve), Father David (Mary), Siblings, Jodi (Danny), Amanda, Damon, Derek, Jerry and Nikki.

Michael was preceded in death by Grandparents Ralph and June Shepperd, Gilbert and Dolores Rohde, step brother Anthony.

Services will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN on Saturday February 3, 2024 at 11 am with visitation one hour prior. There will be a luncheon following services at the St. James School in Howard Lake, MN. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery at Dutch Lake.