Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Merrill Wayne Birkholz, 84, of Howard Lake, MN, passed away peacefully at Cokato Manor Monday, May 8, 2023, from complications of a stroke.

A celebration of life service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Cokato, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service.

Merrill was born Aug. 11, 1938, in Cokato to Awalt and Frieda (Stueven) Birkholz.

Merrill graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1956.

He married the love of his life, Ramona Lundeen, Sept. 1, 1961, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. They made their home northwest of Howard Lake on the farm where he grew up.

They started their lives together in a mobile home on the Birkholz farm across the hedge from the farmhouse. In 1965, Grandma and Grandpa Birkholz built a house in Howard Lake, and the family moved into the farmhouse. They raised their five children here – one girl and four boys.

He farmed both crops and livestock. In 1975, he sold the livestock to focus solely on cash crop farming. He also worked at JLCO selling grain dryers and bins for several years. In addition, he worked road construction after high school and, in later years, road construction for Mathiowetz Construction.

He retired from farming in early 2000. He enjoyed going to his kids and grandkids’ sporting and music events. A number of trips were made with friends and family, including Branson, Mexico, Florida, and North Dakota.

Merrill and Ramona spent their honeymoon up the North Shore, including Thunder Bay and Duluth, MN. An annual Duluth trip was a favorite place, and they would take the grandkids with.

In his later years, he took in stray farm cats – they would show up, and he would feed them.

He was a member of Grace Hill Church and a past member of the Assemblies of God Church in Cokato.

Merrill will be remembered for his strong faith, love for his family and friends, integrity, selflessness, compassion, and his daily trips into town (DQ, Marketplace, Norseman, Daniels).

He is survived by his children, Jody (Rick) Selin, Jedd (Traci) Birkholz, Darren Birkholz (Miranda Doering), Jonathan (Kristine) Birkholz, and Daniel Birkholz; grandchildren, Caleb and Carson Selin, Jillian, Jack, Joshua, and Joseph Birkholz, Breanna (Jonathan) Thorson, Brenden Birkholz, and Lynnea Birkholz; great-grandchildren, Lydia, Amara, Karis, Micah, and Wesley Thorson; and nieces, nephews, and many other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Ramona; twin grandsons; parents, Awalt and Frieda Birkholz; sisters, Ruby Drusch and Wilma Nelson; brothers, Wilton Birkholz and Virgil Birkholz; brothers-in-law, Ray Schmieg, Peter Nelson, and Gary Lundeen; and other close relatives.

Honorary urn bearers are his grandchildren.

Diers, Lois Marie, 92 of Howard Lake, Passed away at Stoney River Memory Care of Ramey on May 8, 2023. Survivors include sons; Mark of Howard Lake, Timothee of Billinudgel, Australia, Paul (Connie) of Oak Grove, MN, and Brian (Judith) of Urbana, IL; Funeral Service: 2PM Saturday, May 13. 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake. Visitation begins 1hr prior to service at church, Interment Howard Lake Cemetery.

Joyce Marcella Goepfert, of Cokato, went to be with Jesus on May 3, 2023 at the age of 99 years, 10 months and 1 day. She was born in Regal, MN. July 2, 1923 to Sidney L. Roberts and Edith A. Roberts. She attended school in Regal, Belgrade, and Arlington. She married Stanley Goepfert at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake on September 30, 1949. Their union was blessed with the birth of 3 sons, Richard, Thomas, and James.
Stanley and Joyce farmed NW of Howard Lake at the family dairy farm until Stanley passed away in 1978, at the age of 55 years and 3 days. Joyce also worked outside of the home and farm for many years. Mainly at the Coast to Coast in Cokato, and later at the Lake Bowl in Howard Lake.
Joyce enjoyed puzzles and reading, but the thing she enjoyed most was her family. She loved having the family around and looked forward to visits with the grandkids. She especially enjoyed going up north to the lake and fishing with the family. Road trips were her favorite way to travel. She had her last big road trip at the age of 94 to Colorado. Duluth and Itasca were also favorite vacation spots.
On July 1, 2022, she moved to the Howard Lake Care Center, residing there until her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her mother and father-in-law, Louise and Emil Goepfert. Also preceding her in death are her brother, Pat Roberts, brother-in-law, Arvid, Goepfert, husband, Stanley, son, James Goepfert, grandson, Eric Goepfert, and great grandson Ethan.
She is survived by her sons, Richard (Judy), Thomas (Paulette) Goepfert, and grand-children, Elaine Goepfert (Jason Albrechtson), Jacob Goepfert, Luke Goepfert, Jennifer Goepfert (Travis Pedersen), Christine Goepfert, Lorelei (Tim) Sullivan, Odilia (Alex) Lindstrom, and Colleen Goepfert, step grandchildren, Dawn (Ed) Johnson and Holly (Robert) Helms,17 great-grandkids and 3 great great-grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews, family and friends. Many people loved her and called her Grandma. She loved all her family very much and was extremely proud of them all. She changed many lives for the better with her love and support. She will be deeply missed.
Services will be at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 19, 2023 with visitation beginning at 1 PM at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato (280 3rd St. SE) Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Christenson, Daniel N. age 92, passed away April 27, 2023. He was born April 26, 1931 in Dassel Township, the 5th of 10 children. He attended country school and joined the military before finishing High School. In the military he received his GED. After completing his time in the service, he went to the University of Minnesota, where he achieved two associate degrees, one being in agriculture. While at the U of M, he became a foreign exchange student to Sweden. After completing his internship, he traveled across Europe, sight seeing and interacting with people. Back in the states, he worked a number of jobs, including being an orderly in a hospital, a cab driver, and a bus boy at a restaurant.
In the early 1970’s he discovered his true calling was going to be farming. He took over the family farm and bought a herd of cows to start dairy production. In 1980, he purchased the farm from his father’s estate. Daniel farmed and milked cows for almost 30 years. When he sold the cows, he retired and put the land into CRP acres, these are set aside acres to help wildlife have a nice habitat. Daniels goal was to be a steward of the land. Part of this motivation was due to his fondness of bird watching and his appreciation for deer and pheasants. Daniel was able to stay on the farm until January 7th, 2021 when he was no longer to walk without assistance. He moved into Cokato Manor where he received excellent care until 5 minutes after his 92nd birthday.
Daniel was a lifelong member of North Crow River Lutheran Church, where his faith was cultivated and grown throughout his life. He was a devout Christian and his faith in God and his only son, Jesus Christ, carried him through many years of hard work and endurance. Daniels was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Ruby, brothers, Dale and Duane, sisters, Marilyn Kujawa, Evon Anderson, and Carolyn Koeneke.
Survived by Rosalie Haglund, Mae Ruotsinoja, Lowell and Sharon Winfield, brothers in law, Marvis Anderson and Franz Koeneke, sister in law, Ruth Christenson, along with many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. He will be missed.
A celebration of life will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 20th, 2023 at North Crow River Lutheran Church, with visitation 1 hour prior to services at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Earl James Stoll, 75 of Howard Lake, MN passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on May 5, 2023.

He was born on March 22, 1948, in Watertown, MN to Willis and Bernadette Stoll. He was baptized on June 29, 1948 and later confirmed on April 7, 1963 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake.
He attended St. James Parochial School and graduated from the Howard Lake High School in 1967. With a deep commitment to his country, Earl served in the US Army and in the Vietnam War during 1968-1969.

Earl was united in marriage to the love of his life Darlene Marie Hayes at St. James Lutheran Church on October 16, 1976. Together they raised three daughters Debbie, Danielle, and Denise.
They helped him live the most independent life possible, they were there for all of his daily needs. After being diagnosed with cancer, he settled into a quiet routine that suited him well.

Earl took every opportunity to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed seeing his grandkids off on their first day of school, attending baseball practices and games, and watching gymnastics (or as he would like to call it jumpy class). Anything Papa could give them a ride on he would, from lawnmowers to four-wheelers to golf carts to his knee.

Some of his favorite hobbies included going for rides in his truck, thrifting, and doing word finds. He had a creative side and a knack for woodworking projects, his girls could show him any picture and he could make it. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings especially when they played the Green Bay Packers since it was a house divided. He was always up for an adventure!

Earl is survived by his loving wife Darlene Stoll, daughters Debbie (Brett) Gilbert, Danielle (Chase) Noethe, and Denise (Mason) Shaw, Grandchildren Vayda Gilbert, Riley and Brayden Noethe, Colton and Noah Shaw, Siblings Joe (Donna) Stoll, Jane (Bill) Goepferd, Shirley (Rick) Schueble, and Jerome (Denise) Stoll, Brothers-in-law Larry (Jo) Hayes, Tim (Donetta) Hayes, and Jeff Hayes, Aunt Grace Stoll, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Earl was a husband, father, brother, son, friend and Proud Papa.

Visitation will be at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, MN on May 13th, 2023 at 10 AM with a service at 11 AM with Military Honors.
Luncheon and celebration of life to follow at the Howard Lake American Legion, starting at 1 PM. Private burial at a later date to be determined.