Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Mary Ann Louise Johnson of Cokato, passed away at Centra Care Health Center of Monticello on March 21, 2017.
Funeral Service: 10 AM Friday March 24, 2017 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 5-8 PM Thursday afternoon at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato and 1 hr. prior to service at church on Friday
Interment: Church Cemetery
Mary Ann Louise Johnson, the youngest child of Arvid and Sara Bergquist, was born in Dassel on December 9, 1922. She grew up in the rural areas around Dassel and Cokato, and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1940. Mary Ann was united in marriage to Kenneth Johnson on September 5, 1942 at her parents’ farm near Litchfield just prior to Ken’s military service. For the next three years, Mary Ann lived and worked in cities New York, Boston, Minneapolis and Long Beach, as Ken served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. She was a strong and courageous young woman who quickly learned to navigate life on her own during wartime while waiting for her husband to return from active duty. Mary Ann and Ken moved back to Cokato after he was discharged in October, 1945. They worked together to raise five children, manage an electrical business, and served as caretakers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. During these years, Mary Ann created a warm and loving home and worked for various local businesses including Nortronics, Fabritec, Green Giant, Jack and Jill, and Cokato Dry Cleaners. Throughout their life together, Mary Ann and Ken were active members of the Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, served on the Altar Guild and was a member of the LCW. Mary Ann and Ken loved traveling together. They especially enjoyed their trips to Sweden to visit her ancestral home, attending the Tin Can Sailors reunions, and spending time at the family cabin on Bass Lake near Brainerd.
Mary Ann was known for her kind, caring, and compassionate nature, as well as her humble character, gentle demeanor, and loving heart. She lived a life of faith and adherence to God’s Word. As a student of the Holy Scriptures, Mary Ann not only enjoyed studying the Bible, she put those words into practice in her everyday life. She freely gave the gifts of love, patience and self-acceptance to others because of her belief in God’s mercy for all as stated in some of her favorite verses:
No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair and just and merciful, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. Ephesians 4:32
Her entire family has been blessed by this remarkable woman and is thankful God placed them in this life together
Left to cherish Mary Ann’s memory are her children Nancy (Bill) Gunther of Fairmont, Pam (Dwight) Lundeen of Becker, Greg (Mary) Johnson of Delano, Jennifer (Darrell) Gorham of Coon Rapids, and Jim (Teri) Johnson of Big Lake, grandchildren Heather Trembley, Bill and Todd Gunther, Mike (Annica) Lundeen, Matt (Amber) Lundeen, Kristin (Barry) Bennett, Sara (Mike) Keefe, Adam Johnson, Josh (Anne) Gorham, Elyse (Brian) Pevensie, Scott Gorham, Zachary, Calab, Kate, and Brianna Johnson, great grandchildren Emily and Cecilia Trembley, Taylor Gunther, Gabby Lundeen, Drew, Kenzie and Zach Lundeen, Molly, Luke, and Anna Bennett, Evelyn and Cora Keefe, Signe, Trygve, Odin Gorham, Nettle and Jade Pevensie and many relatives and friends. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Johnson, parents, Arvid and Sara Bergquist, brother, Reuben Bergquist, and sister, Ruby Lien. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, March 24th at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato with visitation on Thursday evening from 5:00-8:00 pm. Interment will be in the Cokato Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Lowell H. Schrupp

Lowell Hubert Schrupp, age 80, passed away at Good Samaritan Home in Howard Lake on March 20, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake with visitation one hour prior to services at the church.
Lowell was born at home in Howard Lake to Andrew and Mardis Schrupp. He graduated from Howard Lake High School and entered into the army shortly after that. He married Karen Cochran and they had four children. After returning from the service, he began working at Munson Feeds in Howard Lake.
Lowell loved horses. His passion for the magnificent four-legged creatures began when he was at a horse auction in middle school. He saw a starving colt and felt sorry for it, so he purchased it for twenty dollars. He started Little Bit Ranch in 1977, where he bred, raised and trained quarter horses. Lowell started running horses at county fairs. He was on the Wright County Fair Board for 23 years and a member of MQHRA (Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association). He has won several races with quarter horse babies that were bred by his stallion and mares.
He traveled to watch his young horses in training and various races out of town and at Canterbury race track in Shakopee. He won many races with his quarter horses and was proud of his accomplishments.
He retired from Munson Feeds after 40 years in feed sales.
He had a hearty laugh, distinguishable in a crowd. He enjoyed following his grandchildren’s sports activities and any horse races, a polka dance and good brandy. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Howard Lake American Legion Post 145.
He is survived by his daughters Connie Norman, Bemidji, MN., Jessie (Pat) Salonek, Waverly, Susan (Bill) Kalinowski, Maple Lake. Grandchildren Joshua (Corrina) Koch, Adam (Beth) Koch, Jennifer (Chad) Remer, Stephanie (Nick) Ward, Angela (Jess) Tourmanen, Patrick (Laura) Salonek, Andy (fiancee Leah Bird) Salonek, Ryan Kalinowski and 13 great grandchildren. Siblings, Howard (Jeanette), Loren (Janice), Melvin (Nancy), Carol (Gerald) Burau, Gaylen (Kathy) also Karen (Cochran) Duraine, the mother of his children, Lavonne Schrupp-Riebe former wife and her daughters. Also many nieces and nephews and friends.
Preceding him in death are his parents, his only son, Kim, brothers, Ralph and Gerald and nephew Tim Schrupp.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-543-3401

Heather Jean Wisuri was born to Derek and Debra (Byykkonen) Wisuri on March 16, 2017 and passed away on March 19, 2017. at Childrens United Hospital of St. Paul.
Heather Jean Wisuri was born at Childrens United Hospital of St. Paul on March 16, 2017, to Derek and Debra (Byykkonen) Wisuri. She passed away there at Childrens United Hospital on March 19, 2017.
She is survived by: her parents Derek and Debra, brothers Kellen, and Keaton, and sister Victoria. Grand parents;; Doug and Lana Wisuri of Cokato, and Glen and Carolyn Byykkonen of Princeton, Minnesota. Great Grand parents: Eva Wuollet of Cokato, Lorraine Wisuri of Cokato, Doug and Margaret Bratt of Princeton, Donald and Verna Byykkonen of Brainerd. Many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Heather is preceded in death by: great grandfathers Donald Wuollet, and Robert Wisuri.

Funeral Service: 2 PM Friday March 24, 2017 at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church, 16144 20th St SW, Cokato, MN 55321
Visitation: Will begin on Friday at Noon at the church
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery

Ronald Henry Selden was born on May 30, 1924, at Harmony, Minnesota to John and Ruth (Helgeson) Selden. He grew up on a farm in Canton, Minnesota. Ronald graduated at Canton High School in 1942. After School, he farmed with his parents and drove truck for a time. He later went to work at St. Paul Rental becoming service Manager there.
On June 18, 1946 Ronald married Marjorie Lenton in Spring Valley, Minnesota. They made their home in Canton and Spring Valley first and later in Bloomington, then Roseville. After retirement, they spent summers on Big Sandy Lake and winters in Apache Junction. In 2012 they moved to Litchfield and to Brookridge in Cokato in 2014.
Ronald enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He was a very active member of the Lions most recently in Litchfield, Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family.
Ronald passed away at Cokato Manor on March 9, 2017. He had reached the age of 92 years, 9 months and 9 days. Survivors include his children: Becky Ramstad of Dassel, Robert (Carol) Selden of Roseville, Sue Selden of Granite Falls, and Dave Selden of Santa Barbara. Grand children: Sheri (Conrad) Frisch, Erick (Sue) Frisch, Elizabeth Jones, Sarah (Jess) Utter, Bradley Ramstad, Megan Selden, Jenny Selden. 13 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren. Brother Henry (Rita) Selden.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruth Selden, wife Marjorie, 1 brother and 1 great great grandson.

Memorial service: 11 AM Saturday, March 25, Zion Lutheran Church, Litchfield, MN.
Visitation: 1hr prior to service

Florence Weaver Higgins Sundblad
Florence Sundblad, 97, formerly of Allentown, Pennsylvania, went home to be with her Lord on March 9, 2017. She passed away at Cokato Manor in Cokato, Minnesota. Born December 22, 1919, in Allentown, PA, she was the daughter of the late George and Cora (Ohl) Weaver and the adopted daughter of the late John and Florence (Horlacher) Weaver of Allentown, PA.
While in Allentown, she was a member of Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church and very active in choir, teaching Sunday School and various other ministries of the church. In her youth, she was active in Luther League. She graduated from Kutztown State Teachers College in 1941. She especially loved teaching young children and taught in the local elementary schools in Allentown and Center Valley, PA. She loved to travel, toured all 50 States, and took an Alaskan cruise three times. She also traveled to Sweden and Norway, which she said was a “dream come true”.
Florence was the wife of the late John Higgins. She had two children, daughter, Madeleine, wife of David Heffley, of Milton, DE and a son, the late John Higgins, husband of Marlenne of Clearwater, Florida. Florence had three grandchildren Michael Heffley, husband of Marissa (Frey), Darryl Heffley and Briana Marks, wife of Edwin. She had one great grandson, Aiden. She had eight siblings, all deceased, Mae, Martin, Lila, Madeleine, Paul, George, Theodore and Richard, all of whom greeted her in Heaven.
After her first husband died, she met and married Clifford Sundblad of Cokato, Minnesota while enjoying warm winters in Tucson, Arizona. Clifford and Florence had 24 years of a wonderful marriage and she was blessed with a second family – stepson Allen Sundblad, husband of Carla (Kamrath), and the late stepdaughter, Sheila, wife of Bob Ryan. She also received the love of more grandchildren, Jacob, who is also rejoicing in heaven with her, and Philip, sons of Allen and Carla, and Steven, Jennifer, Johathan and Katherine, children of Bob and Sheila.
Florence and Clifford were members of North Crow River Lutheran Church, Knapp, Minnesota. A graveside service will be held at the Emmaus Moravian Cemetery, Emmaus, Pennsylvania where she will be laid to rest beside her first husband, John (Jack) Higgins.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the North Crow River Lutheran Church, Cokato Manor or The American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato and Howard Lake, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com