Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Della Mae Hirsch, age 90, passed away peacefully on February 17 2022 at her residence in Waverly, Minnesota. She was born May 19, 1931 in Montrose, Minnesota to Leo and Catherine (Blummer) Yager. She was baptized May 24, 1931 by Pastor E.H. Bruns. Della confirmed her faith March 25, 1945 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Delano Minnesota by Pastor E.H Bruns. Della Hirsch graduated in the class of 1949 in Howard Lake. Della married Eldon Hirsch on April 22, 1953 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Delano Minnesota by Pastor M.J. Lenz. They were each other’s pride and joy. They made their life together at a family farm north of Howard Lake. They were blessed with four children. Della spent most of her time working beside her husband Eldon on their farm, most important she had her bird feeders full. Della loved spending her spare time listening to music and square dancing. Most Fridays’ Della spent her time at Senior Citizens above the library playing cards. Della provided her famous potato salad and rice krispies. Bus trips and traveling far and wide, this is how Della got the name Crazy Legs Hirsch. Della could always be found at local Craft Shows selling her doilies or taking orders to make other custom pieces for them to bring home to their families. Della was a member of the Wright County Historical Society. Della enjoyed her summers in the old log school house at the Wright County Fair educating and talking to members of the community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Catherine Yager; husband Eldon Hirsch; son, James Hirsch; granddaughter, Nicole Hirsch. Della was survived by; daughter, Kathleen (Rick) Marschel of Maple Lake, daughter-in-law, Julie (John) Wilson of Howard Lake, son, Lyle (Mary) Hirsch of Howard Lake and daughter, Cindy (Ronnie) Grangroth of Waverly; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of family and friends.

A funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, with visitation 1 hour prior. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Dennis Raymond Cacka

age 73, of Litchfield and formerly of Silver Lake, MN passed away Feb. 12, 2022 at the Ecumen Living Center in Litchfield. He was born March 26, 1948 in Silver Lake to Edward and Angeline (Juncewski) Cacka. Dennis grew up on a farm north of Silver Lake, he married Joyce Marie Fiecke on April 26, 1969. This union was blessed with 3 children: Kari, Jean, and David. Dennis and Joyce lived north of Silver Lake and engaged in farming; Dennis had also worked for Kenny Juncewski Trucking. In 1990 Dennis & Joyce moved near Lake Minne Belle in Litchfield, Dennis had run a bait shop & was a gas truck driver for Cenex Co-op of Hutchinson. After selling his home near Lake Minne Belle in September 2021 he had moved to Ecumen Senior Living in Litchfield. He enjoyed watching NCIS, The Closer, and any western show or movie. Dennis is survived by his daughters, Kari (James) Klima, and Jean (Jason) Horrmann, both of Silver Lake, MN, grandsons, Eric Klima (Bernice Ruiz), Jacob Klima (Josslyn Collette), and Carl Horrmann (Alexis Winfrey), son, David Cacka and his family of Hutchinson, MN, brother, Dale (Maggie) Cacka, sisters in-law, Marlyce (Pat) Fistman, and Linda Fiecke, along with many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Joyce (Nov. 12, 2018). A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, Feb 18, 2022 from 5-8 PM at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

James (Jimmy) D. McClure, (52), of Cokato, MN, passed away on Feb 8, 2022. Jimmy was born in Sibley, IA to Julie (Newman) Blank and Glen Dykstra on May 3, 1969. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1988. After high school he pursued Natural Resources/Conservation education at Vermilion Community College and ultimately chose to enter the workforce as a truck driver. Jimmy met Tonia in 2003 and fell in love. They blended their lives and their families and were married on September 15, 2007.

Jimmy was active in racing for many years, and a huge NASCAR fan. He had a passion for trucking and enjoyed opportunities to drive a range of vehicles and haul a wide variety of loads within the Midwest and locally. He could tell you the make, model and year of every truck he saw on the road. He was a great trucker, hardworking, but more than anything he was a dedicated family man and loved the outdoors. He always looked forward to deer hunting in the fall and summer vacations in Detroit Lakes with his family. Recently he enjoyed many camping adventures with his wife and friends. He also enjoyed playing games and making people laugh. Laughter could be heard wherever Jimmy was. More than anything he loved his family, his wife, children and grandchildren.

Jimmy was preceded in death by grandparents Paul and Lorraine Newman, Henry (Hap) and Dorothy Dykstra, and step-father James C. McClure. He is survived by his wife Tonia, daughters Jessica (Jacob) Doll, Elizabeth, Emilee, Mackenzie, and Megan; grandchildren, Destiny, Gabby, Grace, Hope, Ryder, Carson, Damien, Ainsley, Angelina, Kinsley, Layla, Azrael, his parents Julie and Roger Blank, Glen and Janet Dykstra, and his siblings, Alicia (Michael) Klimek, Patty (Bruce) Wiitanen, Jed Dykstra, Paige Dykstra and many additional extended family members.

Funeral Services will take place Thursday 2/17/22 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Dassel. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm, service will begin at 1:00pm followed by fellowship. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534

Todd Welte, age 49 of Cokato, passed away on Monday, January 31, 2022. He was born April 8, 1972. Todd was united in marriage to Melanie Stai on May 5, 1995. Together they had three children: Cody, Alexandrea, and Hailey. They moved to Cokato in 1996 to raise their family and in 2015 adopted two more children: Mason and Raidyn, to join the family. He loved all his children very much and family was really important to him. Todd loved going camping with his family, and taking the boat out and watching the kids tube. While burning campfires, he always had music playing; the genre depending on his mood. He also played music out on the boat while fishing with his friends or family. He also enjoyed to golf. During family gatherings he played cards, mostly buck and cribbage. Todd worked on farms for most of his life, his favorite being Sky View Dairy in Hutchinson, where he worked a variety of jobs and made many good friends. But his best friend is his wife and to her, he will always be her farm boy.

Survived by his wife, Melanie, children, Cody, Alexandrea, Hailey, Mason, and Raidyn Welte, mother, Joalyn Welte, sister, Tresa (Scott) Papesh, brothers, Kyle (Elizabeth) Fawkes, Kent (Jenni) Welte, and Travis (Danielle) Welte,  grandchildren, Kingsley Mertz and Daniel Welte, father in-law, Steve Stai brothers in-law,  Steve jr (Tami) Stai, Shawn (Bobbie) Stai, Nicholas (Andrea) Stai, sister in-law, Andrea (Lance) Matheny, and many nieces and nephews.
Todd was preceded in death by grandparents, Welmer and Inez Skager, and his mother in-law, Sandy Stai.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, February 8 with visitation on Monday, February 7 from 5-7 PM at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Richard “Dick” Glessing age 77 of Howard Lake passed away at the Allina Buffalo Hospital on December 1, 2021. A service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 10, 2022 with visitation 1 hour prior at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN.

Richard was born on June 18, 1944 (actually falling on father’s day that year) to Warren and Edna (Melinsky) Glessing. He was born at home where his parents and Grandpa Gustave resided and lived for a number of years, until they moved to the house right next door. Richard was a lifelong resident of Howard Lake.

He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St James Lutheran Church, and attended St James Lutheran School through the eighth grade. He graduated from Howard Lake Waverly High School with the graduating class of 1962. Richard enjoyed playing sports in high school, but his passion was the great outdoors. He enjoyed trapping, hunting and fishing and had many family and friends that he enjoyed the sport with. If asked, Richard would say bow hunting was his sport of choice.

Richard believed strongly in serving his country and enlisted in the Air Force. He did his overseas tour in Bangkok, Thailand keeping the military runways lighted and operational for cargo planes to land and load. Richard’s last duty station was in Topeka Kansas where he met his wife of 55 years, Astrid (Hume) Glessing. They were married November 4, 1966 in Topeka, KS and moved the very next day to Howard Lake, where they made their home. They were blessed with a daughter, Rita in 1972.

Richard was an electrician for many years and a member of IBEW Local Union 292. He retired from Bloomington Electric in 2007. Richard truly enjoyed being an electrician and was very thankful to be employed for so many years. He always said he liked the accomplishment of completing a project and the variety of moving on to the next.

Richard enjoyed helping people and was always willing to lend a hand. He always believed in giving back. He believed strongly in blood donation and would give often. He was also a Minnesota Firearm Safety instructor for 30 years.

Richard was preceded in death by infant son Ryan Richard, his parents Warren and Edna (Melinksy) Glessing and many other family and friends.

Richard is survived by his wife Astrid, daughter Rita and son in law Jason Strickland, sister and brother in law Jeannie and Ralph Krohn, sister in law Renata Herberger, 1 nephew and 4 nieces, along with a host of extended family and friends.

Richard was a man of steadfast faith in God. He looked forward to the glorious day he would go to heaven. He is rejoicing with his Lord and Savior now.

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