Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Mary Cecelia (Ruonavaara) Skoog, age 89, passed away on November 19, 2022 at Engel Haus Assisted Living in Albertville, Minnesota. Mary was born the fifth of seven children in Gay, Michigan on September 14,1933 to Anna and Felix Ruonavaara. After graduating from Calumet High School, she moved to Detroit, MI and worked for General Motors. Eventually, she found her way back to the Upper Peninsula and was “so glad” to have been living with her parents when her mother died at age 61. It was during that time that she attended Suomi College and earned a certificate in shorthand. She took her skills to Minneapolis and worked for Judge Miles Lord as a legal secretary in the late 1950s. When the Minneapolis bus workers went on strike, Roy Skoog, a bachelor she had met at church, began giving her a ride to work every morning. They fell in love and were married on July 9,1960 at her sister’s home in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis. They purchased a home in Brooklyn Center and started a family before moving to a small hobby farm in Maple Lake, Minnesota in the spring of 1972. Roy commuted to work in Minneapolis and worked “long days”. Mary was a devoted and loving stay-at-home mother to their nine children who remember running home from the school bus to delectable smells wafting from the kitchen. She sewed Easter dresses for her daughters, made baby quilts and knitted sweaters for her grandchildren, and classic fashions for herself. Ever the wordsmith, she won countless games of scrabble, devoured the criptoquip and crossword puzzles in the newspaper.  Her dictionary was in tatters.  She studied God’s word and reminded her children of the way of a believer. Attending services and fellowship of Gods children was her highest priority. The Gospel of forgiveness of sins was her treasure. In 1988, Mary and Roy sold the farm and moved to the edge of town in Cokato, Minnesota where a stream of church friends would “stop by” for coffee and a visit. During these precious years of retirement, Mary and Roy criss-crossed the country in their car visiting friends, relatives and loved ones, never staying in one place too long. Friends remember Mary as a chatterbox alongside her steadfast quiet husband. She never forgot the birthdays of her grandchildren. Keeping in touch was her specialty. Mary wrote long letters and spent countless hours catching up with friends and family on the telephone. Many loved ones will miss their daily conversations.

Mary is survived by her husband of 62 years, Roy Skoog, of Albertville, MN; nine children: Juliana (Gerald) Johnson (Skanee, MI), Janet (Karl) Niemela (Lake Stevens, WA), Thomas (Janet) Skoog (Otsego, MN, Dale (Laura) Skoog (Rogers, MN), Darlene (Tim) Sutinen (Phoenix, AZ), Andrew (Hanna) Skoog (Waverly, MN), Wayne (Susan) Skoog (Greenfield, MN), Annemarie (Steve) Jones (Longview, WA), and Jennifer Skoog (New York, NY); 65 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren; siblings Nathan (Mimi) Ruonavaara and Luella (Robert) Grangroth; Brother-in-law George Wisuri, Sister-in-law Gladys (Ruonavaara) Lahti, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Anna Ruonavaara, siblings Helen (Dan) Karineimi, Julia Holman, Anna (Izzi) Wisuri, Quentin Ruonavaara, grandchildren, Brady Alan Niemela and Ashley Rose Johnson.

Visitation to be held at 10:30 am at Rockford Laestadian Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 26, followed by the funeral at noon.  Burial will be at 2:30 pm at the Finnish Cemetery in Cokato, Minnesota.

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

Sheri Marie Hoyhtya, 58, of Cokato Minnesota passed away on November 14, 2022, unexpectedly. Sheri was born in Cloquet Minnesota on November 4th, 1964. She graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School. Sheri loved serving the public at the Market Place Deli where she worked before leaving to be a full-time grandma to her grandkids. Her biggest joy was her grandkids, family, and dogs.

Sheri is survived by Daughters- Jennifer Todnem (Derrick), and Samantha Peterson (Aaron), Grandchildren Makenna Todnem and Kaden Todnem. Siblings Barbra Peterson (Ford), Lori DeAntoni, and James Brown (Melanie).

Sheri is preceded in death by her parents Eugene LaBreche and Lenore Brown.

A time to gather will take place on Monday, Nov. 21 from 4-6 PM with a 6:00 prayer service at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Gary Isaacson passed away peacefully at his home on October 31, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. There will be time to celebrate his life at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home on Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 2:00-4:00 PM with a time of sharing at 3:30 PM.

Gary was born to Floyd and Rosilyn (Hanson) Isaacson on May 6, 1959. He graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School and attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis. He had radio announcing jobs in both Nebraska and Iowa and then moved to Texas in 1982 to work for his brother Craig’s carpentry business.

Gary moved back to Cokato in January of 2012. Shortly after he moved home, his dad was diagnosed with cancer and Gary was able to be his caretaker.

Gary was a sports fanatic! He loved his Vikings (never was able to see them win the Super Bowl). He followed all the Minnesota sports teams. He also enjoyed making a bet or two at Canterbury Downs and studied and analyzed the racing forms and put his best bet possible on the table.

Uncle and Great Uncle were Gary’s most treasured titles. Nothing made him prouder than the successes of his nieces, nephew, great nieces and nephews.

Gary will be missed by everyone that knew him. He had a zest for life and you could always count on him to share his opinion! He had many friends at the Ironhorse that became family and supported him through everything.

Gary is survived by his brother Craig (Sue) Isaacson, sister Connie (Bruce) Isaacson, Nieces and Nephew Stephanie (Jeff) Ganser, Jeff (Ashley) Isaacson, Kirsten (Mike) Lindsay, Stacy (Andy) Graff and Hallie (Jared) Peterson. Also great nieces and nephews Jackson, Carter, Griffin and Sawyer Ganser, Floyd, Edwin and Greta Isaacson, Camden, Delaney, Mackenzie and Rhys Lindsay, Nora and Isaac Graff and Phoebe and Millie Peterson.

www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Niemela, Joseph Lowell age 59 of Cokato, passed away unexpectedly October 26, 2022. A memorial open house will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 2-4 PM at the Cokato Township shed. Joe was born May 22, 1963 to Paul and Louise (Anderson) Niemela in Litchfield, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Cokato. He graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1981.

Joe knew Jesus as his Lord and savior. For this reason, he made it known that he did not fear death. He was always willing to help his family and friends in need and was always seeking truth.

He is survived by his siblings, Paul “Mike” (Cheryl), Nathan (Nancy), Maria (Marcelo) Borja, Aaron (Bonnie), Vincent (Brenda), Larry (Elizabeth), Maurice (Sarah), Betsy (Brett) Ravis, and Amy, also numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Louise, grandparents, Carl and Sophia Niemela and Arthur and Senja Anderson.

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

Jeffrey Paul Nikunen, 54, of Richfield passed away on October 22, 2022 at his home. The son of Rev. Jerome and Phyllis Nikunen, Jeff was born on September 15^th, 1968 in Ontonagon, MI. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and knew Jesus as his savior. An avid Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Minnewaukan High School in Minnewaukan, ND in 1987. He attended NDSU-Bottineau for one year before going to the Association Free Lutheran Bible School where he graduated with a Certificate of Biblical Studies in 1990. He then went to St. Paul Bible College where he earned a B.A. in History and Secondary Education graduating Cum Laude in 1992. In 2014 he earned a certification as a Computer Support Specialist from Takoda Institute.

Jeff was married to Brenda Kjos on September 1^st, 1990 in Fergus Falls, MN. They were blessed with six children.

Jeff most recently worked in various positions within the IT field. He enjoyed sports, history, hunting, fishing, board games and spending time with his kids. He made it a priority to be at as many of his kid’s sporting events, concerts, and theater productions as he could.

Jeff is survived by his children Jeremy (Emalynn), Jessica, Rose, Samuel and Caleb; former wife Brenda Nikunen; Father Rev. Jerome Nikunen; sister Rebecca Trushenski and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jeff was preceded in death by his infant son Peter; mother Phyllis Nikunen; and brother-in-law Dale Trushenski.

May God bless his memory

Visitation will be at 12 PM with the funeral service at 1 PM on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church of Cokato. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremations Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534