Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

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

Joann Louise (Johnson) Lind 92 of Cokato died peacefully at the Glenn Buffalo in Buffalo, Minnesota on June 25, 2023.
Joann was born in Cokato Hospital July 15, 1930 to Edward and Martha (Rosella) Johnson. She grew up on the farm two miles east of Cokato and was a lifelong member of Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church. She lived in Cokato all her life.
Joann met Marlyn Lind in Spicer, Minnesota at the roller-skating rink while spending time at the family cabin on Green Lake at Spicer. She married Marlyn Lind October 1, 1955 at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was a homemaker and gifted seamstress and worked out of the home doing sewing and altering for people. Joann loved coffee with friends, traveling, the lake cabin at Green Lake, bird watching, gardening and most of all her family. She was active in the church choir and LCW Church Unit at church.
Joann is survived by three children, Lori (Glen) Anderson, Stanchfield, Minnesota, Julie (Brian) Cordie, Helena, Montana and David of Cokato; Grandchildren, Tiffany, Tara, Brian, Sabrina, Kyle and John and ten great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband Marlyn; sister Delores and her parents.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM with visitation 1 hour prior on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Mankenberg, Clifford 78
On June 22, 2023, Cliff delivered his final load, backed it in on the blind side, stepped down from the truck and said, “Right on time.” A life-long truck driver, Cliff was born and raised in Walker, MN.
He married Jo, his childhood sweetheart, and they relocated to the area just west of Minneapolis to work and raise their family. Cliff enjoyed hunting and fishing and was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts when his boys were young. His family enjoyed many camping trips as they were growing up.
Cliff was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Gertrude Mankenberg; his brother, Harold; sister Judy (Morrill). He is survived by his sister, Marilyn Vogt (Jim); Jo, his wife of 61 years; children Kip (Cristina); Jodi (Brian); Kelly (Janet); 9 beloved grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Cliff drove truck both locally and over-the-road and had many stories to tell of his travels. After retiring he became an accomplished woodworker and spent many hours in his shop creating gifts for family and friends.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly on June 28, 2023 at 11:00 with visitation from 9:30-10:45AM. Cliff’s family would like to thank Ridgeview Hospice for their tender and devoted care.

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