Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Karen Lee Brown passed away at the Buffalo Hospital on June 29, 2014.

Walter Randt passed away at home in Howard Lake on June 17,2014

Memorial Service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake.

Visitation will begin at 1 PM at the Funeral Home.

Interment will be at a later date in the Howard Lake Cemetery.

Johnson, Manfred O.
age 93, of Cokato entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, June 16, 2014. He was born June 7, 1921 on the family farm near Cokato to John and Agnes Johnson. Manfred graduated from Cokato High School in 1939. He was united in marriage to Gladys Marie Shuneson on April 7, 1945. This marriage was blessed with two children, Sandy (Jerry) Hermstad and Dan (Virginia) Johnson. He spent his entire life farming in the Cokato area. He was part of a hard working farm family with a love for the land and a wonderful work ethic which he carried with him his entire life. Manfred was an active member of the Albion Evangelical Free Church for over 70 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sister, Augusta, and brothers, George and Arne.
Manfred is survived by his children, grandchildren, Bruce (Kim) Johnson, Jennie (Trevor) Hamre, David (Gretchen) Johnson, Joy (Dan) Beasley, Darren Johnson, Laura (Tim) Overmoen and Lisa (Tyler) Van Engen and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister-in-law, June Shuneson. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who devoted his life to his family and to his faith.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11:00 am at Albion Evangelical Free Church in rural Cokato.
Visitation will take place on Friday, June 20, 2014, 4-8 pm at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue for 1 hour prior to the service at church on Saturday.

Richard Joseph Sawatzke, age 58, of Waverly passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2014 following a courageous battle with leukemia.
He was born May 7th, 1956 in Buffalo, MN. He was the son of Robert and Audrey Sawatzke. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Church. Graduated from Howard Lake-Waverly High School in 1974 and completed meat cutting school at Pipestone Technical College.
Dick was an entrepreneur that wore many different hats. Over the years, Dick was a farmer, construction worker, butcher, maintenance manager, property manager, and even a custom fish house designer. Dick proudly built two homes for his immediate family over the years and completed numerous projects for many family and friends. Dick’s talents as a contractor were admired by customers who lent him a lifetime of word-of-mouth advertising that always kept him busy.
Dick enjoyed the outdoors. He especially liked ice fishing, deer hunting, and spending time with family and friends on Freeborn Lake. In recent years, Dick cherished his grandchildren. Times with “Papa” were some of the most important memories of the last five years.
Dick was preceded in death by his father, Bob Sawatzke; mother-in-law and father-in-law Mildred and Clifford Schmieg; and also by an infant brother.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Jan; mother and stepfather Audrey and Marvin Balgaard; daughter and son-in-law Tammy and John Anderson; son Eric; grandchildren Rayna, Gianna, and Grady; siblings and their spouses Joan and Mel Laurence, Dan and Dawn Sawatzke, Chris and Rich Alverson, Doug and Jenell Sawatzke, Dale and Laura Sawatzke, JoEllen and Joel Fasching, Carol and Dan Tongen; brothers-in-law and their spouses Roger and Patty Schmieg, Wayne and Denise Schmieg, and Joel and Sue Schmieg, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Visitation: 4-8 PM on Sunday June 15, Prayer service: 7 PM at St. Mary’s Church in Waverly. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 16th, 2014 at St. Mary’s Church with visitation at 10 am and mass at 11 am.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home.

Bertha “Buddy” passed away at the Cokato Manor on June 9, 2014
Memorial Service: 11 AM Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 4-8 PM Monday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Tuesday
Prayer Service; 7:30 PM Monday at the funeral home.
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery
Bertha “Buddy” Ailie Saari Nelson, 80

Bertha Ailie Saari was born on June 26, 1933 to Elizabeth & William Saari of rural Annandale, the youngest of 8 children. She passed away on June 9, 2014, at Cokato Manor, Cokato, MN with loved ones by her side.

Bertha was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church French Lake, MN. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato, MN. She graduated from Annandale High School in 1951, Annandale, MN.

Bertha married the love of her life Donald Nelson on July 12, 1952. Don served in the US Army, stationed in Germany from 1954 to 1956. During this time they travelled extensively throughout Europe. Once Don was released from duty, they returned to their farm north of Cokato and continued to work the land for many years to come.

Their baby girl was born May 10, 1957 and died May 10, 1957. Their son Scott Donald was born January 2, 1959. Tragically, Scott was lost in a farming accident on July 2, 1960.

Buddy always kept herself busy being a farm wife, helping Don on the farm and working full time. She worked at 3M, Gilmer Monuments, Buffalo Courthouse House and lastly at Cokato School District / Dassel Cokato School District for 27 years, retiring in 1994.

She was a faithful loving wife to Don for over 61 years. They enjoyed extensive traveling (China, Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, most of the 50 states, Finland and Europe). She and Don enjoyed their daily ritual of cribbage games, never getting the elusive 29 game after 60+ years of trying. She was an avid golfer and swimmer.

In 1995 Don & Buddy bought their winter home in Apache Junction AZ There she could be found making teddy bears, attending the computer club, swimming, walking or golfing. Unfortunately she could not travel the past few years due to health reasons. In 2002 Don retired from farming and they built their retirement home on a portion of the land they had farmed for over 50 years.

Buddy was preceded in death by her parents Elizabeth & William Saari, baby girl, son Scott, sisters Ethel (Bernard) Solberg, Dorothy (Henry) Lehtola, & Ferne (Harold) Hansen; brothers Harry & Willard (Ruth).

Buddy is survived by her loving and devoted husband Donnie, sisters Kathryn Gomez and Ruthe Saunders. She is also survived by 18 Saari nieces/nephews and their spouses, sisters-in-law Mildred Nelson and Shirley Tyni, along with 17 Nelson nieces/nephews and spouses. She is further survived by numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. Buddy was dearly loved.