Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Quanbeck, Norman Jerome, 89, passed away peacefully on July 17th, 2023 at the Cokato Manor. Norm was born to George and Esther Quanbeck on July 2, 1934 and grew up in Pelican Rapids and Bertha, MN. He met the love of his life, Ardelle Skovholt, at a Sadie Hawkins dance while at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and she was the answer to his prayers. They wed on August 7, 1955 and were married for over 66 years. After a stint living in an airstream trailer at Fort Bragg in North Carolina they returned to Minneapolis, Minnesota and Norm finished his teaching degree at Augsburg. In 1959 they moved to Cokato, Minnesota where Norm taught math and science at the high school for 34 years influencing the lives of innumerable young people. The state of Minnesota honored Norm in 1968 as an Outstanding Teacher. They raised 3 children and were involved in church, school, and community activities, including the American Legion, Boy Scouts and the Lions. He loved his family, and enjoyed woodworking, fishing, photography club and road trips. Preceded in death by his wife, Ardelle, parents, stepmother Agnes Quanbeck, his daughter Joan, and brother Quentin Quanbeck. Norm is survived by sons Keith (Jane) Quanbeck and Ron (Alyssa Dybvig) Quanbeck, grandchildren Anna, Benjamin, Daniel, Erica, and Hailey, 4 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will take place at 2:00 pm on Saturday July 22, 2023 with visitation for 1 hour before the service, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato MN. The service will be live streamed from the church website at: elchome.net. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home 320-286-2534

Jeanette Esther Ruth (Tonsberg) Entinger died unexpectedly July 6, 2023, at Minnetonka Shores in Spring Park, MN. She was born February 5, 1947, in Cokato, MN, the daughter of Theodore and Esther (Scott) Tonsberg. She was baptized in Christ at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato, MN.
Jeanette graduated as valedictorian from Howard Lake High School, Class of 1965. Following graduation, Jeanette attended the University of Minnesota – Morris, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. She married LeRoy Entinger on May 27, 1972, and settled in Waverly, MN, where they raised their three sons. She worked for Travelers Insurance and Green Giant, but her favorite jobs were farming, raising her sons, and cooking. She was a loyal and active member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 1901, Order of the Eastern Star and St. John’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school and preparing meals for church functions.
Jeanette loved animals, especially her kitties, listening to music with Elvis Presley’s gospels being her favorite. She also loved finding a deal, couponing and never missing a garage sale. After moving to Minnetonka Shores, she enjoyed activities such as gardening and visiting with her neighbors over many cups of coffee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Esther Tonsberg; brothers: Marlyn, Roger, and Donald; infant sister; brother-in-law Charles Rodd; niece Tamara Tonsberg and nephew Scott Tonsberg.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, LeRoy; sons: Brian (Jodie) Entinger of Mound, David (Jamie) Entinger, of Montrose, and Robert Entinger (friend-Becky), of Escanaba, MI; grandchildren: Carter, Ellie, Jack, and Jillian; great-granddaughter: Hannah; sister: Doris Rodd of Mound; sister-in-law: Delores Tonsberg of Maple Plain; nieces: Jeanne Prok and April Tonsberg; nephews: Jeff Rodd, Jon Rodd, and Steven Tonsberg.
A service of remembrance will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, July 22 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Venla Irene Lappi Karinen
November 3, 1923 – March 21, 2023
Venla was born on her parents’ farm in Cokato, Minnesota on November 3, 1923, the fifth of six children.
Venla graduated from Cokato High School, Minneapolis Business College and had a successful career as a secretary in the City. In 1946 she married Earl Karinen ad they had two sons Bradley and Allen. Earl and Venla resided in Minneapolis until 1973 when they moved to Lake Sylvia. After Earl’s death she moved to Annandale, where she volunteered for Annandale schools.
In 2014 Venla moved to Carlsbad, California to live with her son Allen and daughter-in-law Darlene.
Venla was preceded in death by her husband Earl, son Bradley, two brothers and their wives Reino (Bernette) Lappi, Weino (Bernadette) Lappi, three sisters and their husbands Helmi (Stanley Rustad), Melba (George Sihvonen) and Lois (Clark Shattuck).
Venla is survived by her son Allen (Darlene), grandson Peter (Kasey), grandson Roland, Peter’s mother Mary and many nieces/great nieces and nephews/great nephews.
Venla will be buried next to her husband in the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. A service is planned for July 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Duane “Dick” Wuollet, passed away on July 2, 2023 at home surrounded by his family. Duane Richard Wuollet, affectionately known as “gramps” was born at home in Cokato MN to Harry and Estella (Lofback) Wuollet on January 8th, 1935, the eleventh of sixteen children. Dick’s mother died when he was seven years old and his older sisters helped their dad, Harry, raise the family on a farm NW of Cokato.
Dick walked to Ojanpera country school with his siblings and was a student there through the eighth grade. In January 1954 at the age of nineteen Dick joined the United States Marine Corps. He served honorably as a U.S. Marine for two years being promoted to the rank of Meritorious Corporal and was sent overseas for duty in Japan and Korea.
Following his discharge from the service Dick met and later married Mary Ann Barber on September 8th, 1956. The couple began their life together in Mpls. while Dick attended Dunwoody Institute for sheet metal trade training under the GI bill. Dick and Mary Ann were blessed with four children and the family enjoyed camping trips and staying at their cabin on Little Swan Lake in Dassel, MN.
In 1970 the family moved to a farm NW of Cokato next to the home farm where Dick had grown up. Dick retired as a union sheet metal laborer in 1997 and continued farming their land into his eighties. He was a gifted self-taught mechanic who was in his element repairing tractors and farm equipment. In his retirement years Dick enjoyed farming, golfing, traveling with Mary Ann, reading and playing games. Like a true Finlander he liked his coffee and sauna hot. A lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church Dick’s faith was grounded in the grace promises of his Lord and Savior Jesus. Dick and Mary Ann were married nearly 67 years when Mary Ann passed away on March 22, 2023.
Dick is survived by his daughters Debra (Peter) Halonen, Cheryl (Paul) Niemela, and his son Mark; 19 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; 1 great great-granddaughter; sisters Marcella Hallberg and Mildred Mattila; sisters in law Dorothy Wuollet and Eva Wuollet; brothers in law Everett (Cathy) Barber and Gary (Nancy) Barber; many nieces, nephews, friends and brothers and sisters in faith.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann; daughter Denise Narhi; parents Harry and Estella; sisters Marian, Myrtle, Elaine and Janet; brothers Melvin, Harry Jr., Stanley, Donald and 5 infant siblings.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 5-8 pm and continue 1 hour prior to services on Saturday, with a funeral service to be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church (74537 240th St, Dassel, MN 55325) Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Robert Dewayne Ryks, 75 passed away on June 24, 2023.

A celebration of life will be August 26, 2023 from 1pm-4pm at the Howard Lake American Legion.

Robert Dewayne Ryks was born at Rice Memorial Hospital on November 30, 1947 to George Ryks and Alice Ida Butenhoff.

Robert was married to LuAnn Lorraine Lauzer on April 15, 1978 at St.James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. They made Howard Lake their home until they decided to become “snowbirds”, spending their summers at Sherwood Forest in Garrison, MN and their winters in Weslaco, Texas.
Robert worked as a construction worker, building homes for most of his career. He also owned Billy Bob’s Pub and Grub in Rockford and a Laundromat in Howard Lake. He had many hobbies. He was a stock car racer in his younger years, and spent a lot of time repairing and restoring John Deere tractors. He absolutely loved spending time with family and friends, cracking jokes, and making everyone laugh.

Robert Dewayne Ryks is preceded in death by his mother and father, four brothers, and two sisters.

Robert Dewayne Ryks is survived by LuAnn Ryks, and four children, Stacey(Arlan) Gehring, Kristi (Patrick) Everett, Stephanie (Gene) Ryks, and Jeremy (Jenni) Ryks. Twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.He is also survived by brother Harold Sr. (Lorraine), and sister Judy (Merle) Kluver.

Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com