Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Charles “Chuck” Morell Forslin was born at a very young age to Laurence and Marjorie (Morell) Forslin in Grandy, Minnesota on March 6, 1939. As a young teenager, he was baptized at the Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Chuck graduated from Robbinsdale Senior High School with a letter in swimming and as a member of the National Honor Society. He attended Bethel College for a year and finally graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1967 with a degree in teaching Industrial Arts.

On October 21, 1961 he married Marlit Neumann in Minneapolis. Marlit is the mother of his daughters and a native of Germany. After his college graduation, they moved to Dassel where the intent was to teach for a couple years and then move on to bigger and better things. Chuck retired in 1998 after teaching in the Dassel and Dassel-Cokato schools for 31 years. He really enjoyed teaching, most of the time, and was humbled to learn that a number of his students went into their professions or careers because of the classes they had with him. Several of his former students have become life-long friends.

Chuck was a strong supporter of local high school sports. For a time, he served as a judge for diving and as an announcer at girls basketball. He spent many hours in the bleachers cheering on the football and basketball teams.

Chuck was very active in his church, serving as Sunday School superintendent, trustee, a member of various committees and boards, and as church clerk. He volunteered with Awana and other kids’/home school activities. He also spent countless hours at the church cemetery cleaning and re-setting headstones, as well as researching the history of some of the older gravesites. He was passionate about the ministry of Trout Lake Bible Camp in Pine River, MN and spent many days and weekends there working on special projects and updating grounds and facilities alongside some very special friends.

He married Patsy Long, a widow, in Stanchfield on April 11, 1987. Following his retirement, they lived in Anoka for four years before her passing in 2003. The years he spent with Patsy brought him incredible joy.

Chuck designed and enjoyed building his three homes. The time he was able to spend with his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were some of his happiest moments. He loved to watch them all enjoy life and wanted his last message to them to be that they should all love the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy and their precious Yorkie, Cookie and his mini-Dachshund, Kadia.
He is survived by his sisters Linda (George Mayer) Ritter and Julie (Tom) Snicker, his daughters Kari (Rick) Zins and Robyn (Dave) Frank, grandchildren Michael (Amanda) Zins, Kristina (Derek) Dabbs, Richard (Holly) Forslin, Peter (Brittany) Frank, Laura Frank, and Rebecca Frank, stepsons Brian (Bonnie) Long and Brad (Joel) Long, and their children Josh, Anna, Emily, Grant, Jacob and Aaron, a number of nieces and nephews and many great grandchildren.

Chuck passed away following a short but very courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 84 on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. His funeral will be held on Sunday, January 21, at 3 pm at First Baptist Church in Cokato, MN. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Chuck will be buried at the Stanchfield Baptist Church Cemetery near his grandparents, parents, and wife, Patsy.

Dean Rodney Hedlund, age 81 of Annandale, passed away on January 13, 2024 at the St. Cloud VA Community Care Center.

Dean was born August 19, 1942 at University Hospital in Minneapolis, MN to William Sexton and Opal (Longwell) Hedlund. As an infant Dean lived in Minneapolis for a short period of time and then moved to Sausalito, California while his father worked in the shipyards during WW II. He then moved back to Minnesota with his family and settled on a farm in Kingston Township. He attended 8 years of grade school in the one room school house at Happy Corner. He attended high school in Cokato until joining the US Navy on January 14, 1960. He attended boot camp at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. Duty stations during his service years included Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois, Puerto Rico, and aboard an LST (Landing Ship Tank) off the coast of Vietnam. On April 29, 1966 he was honorably discharged as an E4 Yeoman.

After his discharge from the Navy, Dean worked for a time at a railroad. While working for a mechanical contractor, he was accepted into an apprenticeship program for plumbing through the plumber’s union. He attended and graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis as a plumber. He was a proud member of the Plumber’s Union Local 15. During his career as a plumber/pipefitter, Dean worked in many locations in Minnesota and throughout the United States, Canada, as well as the McMurdo Research Station in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. He purchased an acreage near Stanley Eddy Memorial County Park in rural Annandale, MN where he lived until the time of his death.

Dean enjoyed broom hockey, demolition derbies, pitching horseshoes (state champion), ice and spear fishing, traditional bow hunting, deer hunting with his grandsons on his property, watching high school and college wrestling, riding his Harley, spending time with family and participating in grandkids activities, and watching the sandhill cranes that would visit his property. He was a lifetime member of the Kingston American Legion where he had served as Commander, as well as a lifetime member of Post 7664 VFW and a lifetime member of Chapter 37 DAV.

Dean is survived by his daughters, Stacy (Buck) Twardy of Hutchinson, Jenny (Eric) Iverson of Dassel, grandchildren Jordan and Nathan Twardy, Tanner, Alexis, and Chloe Iverson, and great granddaughter Noelle Iverson Hamade, sisters Kay Anderson of Dassel and Linda (Alan) Hewitt of Kasota, brothers Darrel of Kingston, and Dale (Cindy) of Hutchinson and many nieces and nephews, and his cat Baroni. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Jim Anderson, and sister-in-law Nancy Hedlund.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on June 8, 2024 at the Kingston Community Center with visitation 9:30 – 11:00 am. Interment with Military Honors will be at Sunset Cemetery at Happy Corner just outside of Kingston.

Our dearly loved Denny, age 81, of Cokato, went to Heaven to be with the Lord on January 11th, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held at New Life Assembly of God Church in Cokato, MN at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024. Visitation one hour prior.

Dennis was born to Richard and Ilene Korte Bartell, on March 12th, 1942, in Morris, MN. He grew up helping his dad on the family farm. He was adventurous and enjoyed wrestling, roller-skating and hunting. He graduated from Herman High School, then went on to attend the State School of Science, receiving his degree in Drafting and Design.

He was a devoted husband and loving father with an unquenchable desire to learn and pursue God. He was witty and wise, a master storyteller and had a charming sense of humor. He enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, painting and bird watching. His life was an illustration of the greatest commandment to love God and love others. Matthew 22:36-39. Denny made the verse come alive in his service to God and the love he gave others. He was an ordained minister, encourager and mentor to many.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marilyn; daughters, Sherry (Roger) Danielson, Roxanne Craven, Becky Fox, stepdaughter, Terri (Charlie) Miller, stepson, Brian Fitzgerald; sister, Brenda Alcorn; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Donna Linchangco, Marlene Johnson, and James Bartell.

Denny is now in Heaven greeting people saying, “Good Morning! This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

Lyla Marjorie Lutter passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at the age of 101. Lyla was born September 21, 1922 in rural Cokato, MN to John & Minnie Rhodin. She married Arvid Lutter on March 17, 1946 and this marriage was blessed with four children.

Lyla worked as a farm wife and also worked for over 30 years as a bookkeeper for Holt Motors of Cokato, MN.

Since her marriage in 1946, Lyla remained a faithful member of St James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake, MN.

Lyla was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arvid Lutter, her sister Marie Komula, her daughter, Gayle Pudlitzke and her son, Ellis Lutter.

Lyla is survived by her daughter Connie (Sheldon) Modrow, her son Dennis Lutter, Daughter-in-law Kris Lutter, Grandchildren: Patrick (Jackie) Lutter, Sandy (Guillermo) Garcia, Matt (Shae Nicholson) Modrow, and Joe Modrow. Great Grandchildren: Jordan (Kate) Lutter, Olivia Lutter, Perry Karg, and Carly Karg.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 2:00 pm at St James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service.

Gary Streich, the man who gave Death a run for its money more times than a cat with nine lives passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at home with his wife, Rita, on December 28, 2023. Gary was a larger-than life man whose laughter echoed louder than any rock concert.

Born on June 15, 1949 to Ralph and LaVay (Peterson) Streich, Gary grew up with his sister, Judy (Gagnon) and brothers Rick and Steve (T.T) on the family farm east of Howard Lake. After graduating from Howard Lake-Waverly High School in 1967, at the tender age of 18, Gary embarked on a different kind of adventure when he was drafted into the Vietnam War. From a “grunt” in the jungles of Vietnam, he quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant in the First Calvary of the US Army by the time he was 19. Upon returning home from Vietnam, Gary began his career as a carpenter, spending many years running crews for Wausau Homes and ultimately becoming a General Contractor with his own business – Streich Construction. A marketing genius and never one to take himself too seriously, Streich Constructions tagline was “We’re Not Very Good – But We’re Slow”. Any drive with Gary would be punctuated by him pointing out, “I built that house!”

While a high school student in Howard Lake, Gary was introduced to the love of his life, Rita Painschab. Their journey together was a rollercoaster of laughter, love, and, as they affectionately called it, “50 years of pure hell.” Their May 12, 1973 wedding marked the beginning of a partnership that would stand the test of time. Gary and Rita’s relationship was a spectacle of love, humor, and the craziness that comes with decades of shared history. Their intense love for each other was the backbone of their enduring marriage, proving that a lifetime of love isn’t always smooth, but it’s always worth it.

Gary and Rita bought land across the road from Ralph and LaVay and in 1973, Gary built the home where they would raise their family, just down from Streich Brothers Farm. They were blessed with two daughters, Carrie and Jackie, and their life was a canvas of love, laughter and a healthy dose of chaos. In a twist that seemed scripted for a movie, they reunited with their son, Michael, in 2009, whom they had placed for adoption as teenagers in 1968. Gary embraced the reunion with open arms, adding another chapter to his ever-expanding book of family tales.

In addition to being a master of laughter, Gary Streich was a cherished grandpa who wore the title with pride and love. His grandkids were the apples of his eye. Gary’s eyes sparkled with delight whenever he was with them, and the feeling was mutual—they adored him. Gary’s pockets were always filled with candy – both for the grandkids and himself.

Gary was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, Ralph and LaVay, his uncle Don Streich, and his little brother, Steve Streich. We hope his 4-legged buddy, Conan, was there to greet him as well. As he reunites with them, we imagine the heavenly party being punctuated with laughter and maybe just a few Schmidt beers. Gary is survived by the love of his life, Rita, his daughters; Carrie (Dusty) Dircks, Jackie (Kyle) Thompson, son Michael Hall, sister Judy (Steve (Gunner)) Gagnon, brother Rick (Shelly) Streich, sister-in-law Mary Streich, beloved grandkids Carter Westling, Tyler Hall, Cecelia and Ruby Dircks, Zach, Grant, Owen and Nora Thompson, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and lots of close friends.

As we remember him today, let’s celebrate the joy, laughter, and love he brought into the world. Gary Streich, a grandpa, a husband, a brother, an uncle and a friend—may your laughter echo in our hearts, and may your love live on in generations to come. Rest in peace, Gary.

Please bring your Gary stories to share at his visitation which will be held at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake on Thursday, January 4th from 4pm – 7pm. The funeral will be at St. Mary’s in Waverly at 11am on January 5th with the viewing beginning at 10am.