Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Gary Arnold Estebo

March 9, 1950 – December 29, 2022

Gary A. Estebo, 72, of Weston, WI. (Suburb of Wausau), passed away on December 29, 2022 at the Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital of WI. Gary was born on March 9^th, 1950, to Arnold M. and Violet I. (Cole) Estebo, in Mankato, MN.  He was baptized at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mankato. In 1951, Arnold, Violet, and Gary moved to Amboy, MN.  Gary was confirmed at Jackson Lake Lutheran Church of Amboy. Gary graduated from the Amboy High School in 1968.  He graduated from the Medical Institute of Minnesota as a Histologist. In Bismarck, ND he was the head of the Histology dept. serving 8 area hospitals. He then returned to MN and received a BS degree from St. Cloud State University in finance. Gary was Assistant Manager in various K-Mart stores located in WI, IL, and IN.  He moved to Weston, WI in 1991 and worked in sales and marketing for Scenic Signs and Screen Printing of Wausau, WI until his retirement.  Gary has been described as kind, quiet, a good friend, trustworthy, and a down to earth good guy.  We will miss him! Gary is survived by his Sister, Mary (Harlan) Anderson of Cokato, MN; Nephews: Richard A. (Jenny Slostad) Anderson of Hastings, MN;  and Mark W. Anderson of Cokato, MN; Great Nephews: Grant S. Anderson (11) and Miles J. Anderson (9) of Hastings, MN.  He is also survived by Uncle Harvey (Betty) Estebo of Waukon, IA, and many cousins. Gary was preceded in death by his parents Arnold and Violet Estebo of Amboy, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April, 1st, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Jackson Lake Lutheran Church of Amboy, with Pastor Jon Mapa officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service.  Gary will be laid to rest next to his parents in Pleasant View Cemetery, Amboy. Memorials may be made to Jackson Lake Lutheran Church, Pleasant View Cemetery or the donor’s choice. The family is being served by the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, MN. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to Gary’s kind neighbors in Weston, WI for their caring concern and support for Gary.

Kristie was born on February 12, 1957 to Robert and Darlene Nelson in Wheaton, Minnesota. During grade school the family moved to Cokato, Minnesota. She attended and was confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. During high school Kristie accepted Christ as Savior at a Youth for Christ event.

Kristie graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1975. During her senior year she met her future husband, John Martinson. They were married on October 23, 1976. They made their home in Cokato. Kristie worked at the Tri-Town Grocery Store in Cokato until it closed around 1980. After having her children, she saw the need for daycare in the community, and fulfilled that need for several families in the area. She enjoyed taking care of young children which eventually led to her position as a special education paraprofessional at Cokato Elementary School, which she held until her death. Kristie truly enjoyed working with young children. Her overwhelming love, kindness, devotion, and patience with children shone through every day she walked into the building.

Kristie supported her kids with all of their activities growing up.  She loved attending all of their events and rarely missed a game.  She was proud of each of them and the careers they chose. The last few years her greatest love has been being involved with her grandchildren whether watching them at school events or taking care of them at her home. Every summer she had them over 2-3 times a week, watching them grow and enjoy what they could do at Grandma’s house, whether playing with all the outdoor activities, doing craft projects, or swimming in the pool.

Kristie enjoyed long road trips to Yellowstone, San Diego, Arizona, Washington, Florida, and many National Parks in between. She was the best cook/baker with some of the family favorites being chicken lasagna, caramel rolls, zucchini bread and cupcakes, and her canned pickles. She was also an ardent fan of the Vikings, Twins and the Wild and spent a lot of time following them.

In late September, Kristie started having some health issues so she was unable to carry on her job at school. In late November, she was diagnosed with cancer and chose to be at home with support through hospice and family caring for her.  She was comforted by many visits from family and friends during this time.  Kristie passed away the morning of January 12, 2023, with loved ones surrounding her.

Kristie is survived by her husband, John, daughters, Leah of Dassel, and Amy of Cokato, son Erik, daughter in-law Erin, grandchildren Jordan, Averie, Madelyn, Gavin and Griffin of St. Michael. She is survived by her mother Darlene Nelson of Cokato, brothers Kevin (Kris) Nelson of Darwin, Kim Nelson of Howard Lake, Kelvin (Wendy) Nelson of Cokato, and Ken (Heidi) Nelson of Willmar and sister Karla (Ryan) Zieman of Hutchinson, and also many nephews and nieces.  She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Nelson.

A memorial service will take place at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Highland Community Church in Cokato. Visitation will take place from 4-7 on Sunday, January 22, 2023 and continue 1 hour prior to services on Monday, all at the Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, MN 320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Pastor John Alden Peterson was born on  June 3rd,1935 to John J. Peterson, and Inez Caroline Hanson-Peterson in Cherokee, Iowa. John passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on January 4th, 2023 at 87 years of age in Buffalo, MN.

John spent his earlier years proudly assisting his father in the family grocery store in Avoca, MN. In May of 1953, he graduated from Slayton High School where he was the starting quarterback for his school’s football team and was well known as the class jokester.

He later joined the United States Marine Corps and served from June 1st, 1954 to June 1st,1956.

While serving in the Marines John was befriended by a Chaplain who encouraged him to enter the Ministry.  After his service in the Marines John attended and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota where he met the love of his life, Lynda Lou Hedbom-Peterson.  John and Lynda were married on June 21st, 1959 and served God together through nearly 60 years of marriage.

John and Lynda moved to Rock Island, Illinois where he completed his Seminary education graduating from Augustana Lutheran Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.

John served as a Pastor in Michigan, Texas, Carlton, Brooklyn Center, Cokato, Dassel, and Litchfield, Minnesota.

Through his years of service in pastoral ministries, he held the titles of Bureau of Prisons Chaplain, Missionary, Visitation Pastor, Hospice Chaplain and was honored with Pastor of Emeritus of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Dassel Minnesota.  Throughout John and Lynda’s marriage, they never backed down from an adventure whether it was the Holy Land, Jerusalem, or exploring their homelands of Sweden, and Norway. The pair even took on ziplining in Duluth, MN and flying in a hot air balloon in their 70s.

Family meant the world to John including attending every sporting event, choir, band concert, and play that he could attend.  John’s grandchildren will always remember the many hours spent on the jet skis, boating and in the hot tub alongside their Lake Washington, MN home. Along with his later-in-life four-wheeler rides.

John’s infectious laugh and sense of humor will constantly ring through the heads of those that had the privilege to know him. He was well-liked by those he met due to the constant positivity and gratitude he shared with others. John always expressed his independence with the gravely statement, “I’m a Marine! I can do it.”

John was a true disciple of Christ in every aspect of his life. Tack skå du ha(many thanks) for the many PRECIOUS MEMORIES.

John is survived and missed by his children, Jerome John Peterson, his wife Kathy Jo Peterson, Joy Roxanne Marschel, and her husband Gary John Marschel. Forever cherished and remembered by his grandchildren Brianna, her husband, Austin, Christian, Charlie, and Angelyn. His brothers Ronald, his wife Rose,  Dennis, his wife Karen, and their families. He will be missed by many loved ones and special friends. John was preceded in death by his wife, Lynda, and his parents John and Inez.

A visitation will be held 4-8 PM on Wed. 1/11 with 7 PM prayer. A funeral will be held at 2 PM on Thur. 1/12, all at Gethsemane Luth. Church in Dassel. Arr. by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, MN www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Roy Ernest Skoog, age 95, passed away on January 5, 2023, at Engel Haus Assisted Living in Albertville, Minnesota. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota on November 15, 1927. The third child of Saima and Olaf Skoog, Roy’s early years on the family farm in Wolf Lake were character-building. While his father was in a sanitarium with tuberculosis, Roy bonded with his brothers over barn chores, chopping wood, and helping his mother run the household.

Born with a cleft palate and a lifelong speech impediment, strangers might have considered him a man of few words. But to friends and family, Roy was a robust storyteller. At age 32, he met and married a social butterfly, Mary Ruonavaara, and together they raised 9 children. He was known to have sweet tooth and Mary enabled this by making sure that the cookie jar was never empty.

Retiring in 1989, he spent hours in the wood shop making chairs, clocks and mirrors by the dozen and gifting them to his children and grandchildren.  Roy enjoyed reading the newspaper and books on American history. His days centered around coffee and cookie breaks at the kitchen table with “Ma.” But the highlight of his retirement years were long road trips zig-zagging the country visiting friends and family with Mary by his side.  He delighted in watching grandchildren play on his living room floor.

The Gospel of the forgiveness of sins was his source of strength and what he leaned on until the end of his earthly life.  Roy and Mary had a home where visitors were always welcome and were accepted as they were.

Roy is survived by nine children: Juliana (Gerald) Johnson of Skanee, Michigan, Janet (Karl) Niemela of Lake Stevens, Washington, Thomas (Janet) Skoog of Otsego, Minnesota, Dale (Laura) Skoog of Rogers, Minnesota, Darlene (Tim) Sutinen of Phoenix, Arizona, Andrew (Hanna) Skoog of Waverly, Minnesota, Wayne (Susan) Skoog of Greenfield, Minnesota, Annemarie (Steve) Jones of Longview, Washington, and Jennifer Skoog of New York, New York; 66 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren; siblings Arthur Skoog and Esther (John) Martin, sister-in-law Edna Skoog; He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mary Skoog; parents Olaf and Saima Skoog, brothers Walter, Rudolph, Kenneth, and Harvey Skoog and grandchildren Brady Alan Niemela and Ashley Rose Johnson.

Visitation to be held from 5:30 – 8 PM, with 7 PM prayer on Monday, January 9, 2023 at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church and continue at 10:00am on January 10, 2023, followed by the funeral at 11:00am.  Burial will follow services at the Finnish Cemetery in Cokato, Minnesota.

Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Brown, Rolland W.

Age 76, of Dassel, MN, previously from Burnsville, passed away on Dec. 20, 2022. A celebration of life is being planned for a later date. Arr. by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com