Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Memorial service: 2:00 PM Saturday, May 5, 2012 at St. James Lutheran Church

Interment St. James Lutheran Cemetery

Edwin E. Erickson, age 89, of Cokato, MN passed away on Wednesday,April 18, 2012 at Brookridge Place in Cokato. Edwin was born January 8, 1923 in French Lake to John and Emma Erickson.  Tragically, Edwin’s mother died a few days after his birth leaving John with 10 children to now parent alone.  Given the dire circumstances for the Erickson family, Edwin was lovingly placed in the home of an uncle and aunt, John and Hazel Larson of French Lake.   John and Hazel raised Edwin as an only child in their home and loved him without any reservation.    During Edwin’s childhood, he also spent many days interacting with his 9 older siblings and his father.  Edwin attended the Lee School in French Lake completing grade 8.  Edwin married Della Kotila on March 7, 1942.  To this union, 6 children were born, Carolynn, Gary, Tim, Mary, Therese and Mark.  During their married life, Edwin and Della enjoyed living in the French Lake and Cokato communities.

Edwin enjoyed life!  He especially enjoyed working with his hands.  Edwin’s first career was farming.  In the 1950’s Edwin also learned the trade of carpentry and went on to be a well known contractor/homebuilder, an owner of a lumber business and finally a building inspector in the community.  Edwin maintained active work until age 80.  During retirement, Edwin enjoyed helping on the farm, cutting wood, reading, gardening and visiting with old friends and family.

Edwin was passionate about his Christian faith.  He was an area lay preacher and Bible teacherfor several decades.  Edwin was active as both a member and lay pastor at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in French Lake for many years.  In this congregation, he experienced both the joy of serving and the joy of receiving Christian love and encouragement from his faith community.  Edwin felt blessed whenever he could encourage others to grow in their Christian faith or come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, John & Emma Erickson; uncle & aunt, John & Hazel Larson; wife, Della Kotila Erickson; infant son, Gary; infant great grandson, Garrett Menke; brothers: Clarence, Lawrence, Melvin, Bill, Vernon and Daniel Erickson; sisters: Dora Engstrom, Ellen Ortquist and Ruth Ostlund.

Edwin is survived by children: Carolynn Thompson of Cokato, Tim Erickson of Sauk Centre, Mary Rinden (Dan) of Pine City, Therese Grumley (Jeff) of Rockford, IL, Mark Erickson (Mary) of Cokato; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato, MN with Jerry Seehusen officiating.  Music was provided by Therese Grumley and Lynda Korhonen.  Casketbearers were: Ben Moore, Tom Moore, Tim Rinden, Alex Erickson, Lars Erickson, Robert Kipf and Calvin Kipf.  Burial was at the Grace Lutheran Cemetery in French Lake.

Funeral Service: 2 PM Monday April 30, 2012 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake

Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, and 1hr prior to service at church on Monday

Prayer service: 7 PM Sunday

Interment Howard Lake Cemetery

Funeral Service for Norma Olson will be at 11 AM Thursday, 4/19/2012 at Stockholm Lutheran Church

Visitiation: 4-8PM on Wednesday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Thursday

Interment will be in the Church Cemetery and family has asked for memorials in lieu of flowers.

Norma Esther
Olson, was born on February 2, 1922 at Williams, Minnesota to George and Grace (Nielson)
Jones.  At a very young age Norma was
adopted by Olaf and Minnie Lind.  She
grew up in Minneapolis, and was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran faith there.

Norma spent
summers with relatives; Oscar and Anna Osterberg, in Stockholm Township.
There she met Lloyd Olson, they were married January 7, 1939 on the Osterberg farm.  The couple made their home in Stockholm Township, and engaged in farming.

Norma enjoyed
fishing, gardening and flowers, needlework, and Baking.  Her and Lloyd did quite a bit of
traveling.  She was very active in the Stockholm Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School.
She participated in the birthday club and the sewing club, and helped
with both 4-H and Girl Scouts.

Norma passed
away on April 16, 2012, at the Cokato Manor.
She had reached the age of 90 years, 2 months and 14 days.

Survivors
include, her children; Pat (Russ) Christianson of Apple Valley, Richard (Eleanor)
Olson of  Cokato, Sharon (Harvey) Nelson
of St. Michael, Jeannie (Lester) Eastling of Cokato.  13 grandchildren, 33 great grand children and
2 great great grand children.

She was preceded
in death by her parents, husband Lloyd, and infant son John, grand daughter
Brenda Knockel, 12 Brothers and Sisters.

Wuollet, Janet Margaret, age 71 of Cokato, passed away April 13, 2012 at Cokato Manor. She was born November 19, 1940 at home in Cokato to Harry and Estella (Lofback) Wuollet. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church and attended Ojanpera School. Later in life she moved to Buffalo, MN, where she worked at Functional Industries. She then resided at the Cokato Manor beginning in 1995.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Stanley, Melvin, and Donald, along with her sister: Elaine Wuollet.

She is survived by her sisters: Marian Johnson, Marcella Hallberg, Mildred (Jerry) Mattila, and Myrt Karanen. Brothers: Harry and Dick (Mary Ann), sisters-in-law: Eva Wuollet, and Dorothy Wuollet, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Funeral service: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 11:00 am at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel.

Visitation: 1 1/2 hours prior to the service at Church.