Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Our dear aunt, Melba Jean Johnson, 96, of Cokato, MN passed away October 19, 2021 at Cokato Manor.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Saturday, October 23, 2021 at North Crow River Lutheran Church, North of Cokato.
Visitation: 1 hour prior to service at church.
Interment: Church Cemetery.
Note: due to the church’s Covid funeral policy masks are required by all when inside the church.

Melba was born May 31, 1925 in Spring Grove, MN to Henry and Caroline (Pfister) Kittelson. She was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. When she was 11 her family moved to East Chain, MN. She was confirmed at East Chain Lutheran Church and graduated from East Chain Consolidated School in 1943. Melba graduated from Waldorf College with a teaching degree and taught for 3 years after that at Swea City, IA. It was during this time at East Chain Lutheran Church when Melba felt the Holy Spirit calling her to become a missionary. She spent a year at Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis for mission field preparation, and was called to serve in Bolivia, South America from 1949 to 1953. She came home when her father died and returned to teaching 6th grade in Swea City. During this time, she obtained a BA degree from Cedar Falls Teachers College by going to summer school, cared for her mother, and taught Sunday School and Bible School at East Chain. The pastor of East Chain Lutheran, Rev. Russell Peterson, and his wife Gladys were good friends of Melba’s. When they moved to Cokato, Melba would visit, and on one of those visits they introduced her to Oliver Johnson. Melba & Oliver were married November 24, 1967. Melba started teaching 5th grade at Cokato Elementary and retired in 1989 after teaching 22 years. She and Oliver enjoyed being snow birds in Sun City, AZ for 12 years after retirement.
Melba was an active member of North Crow Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, Bible School, led Bible studies, participated in women’s group, and sang in a trio for many years. She loved to sing and could play the piano by ear.
Melba was an excellent historian, keeping meticulous records and files of genealogy for her family, as well as her husband’s family tree. She enjoyed traveling, history, and nature, and shared these interests through photographs and journals. She welcomed her students to their farm on field trips to study conservation and nature. Melba also enjoyed watching the Twins and Vikings games on TV, and used to keep track of the players’ names in a notebook.
With the decline in her health, Melba never lost her sense of humor, her kind nature, or her strong faith. She loved singing hymns, even when it was difficult for her to speak. She was grateful for the wonderful care she received at Cokato Manor (and especially for her loving foot and hand massages from Marian). God bless her caregivers! We are so thankful to each one who showed Melba kindness, compassion and love!
Melba was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Oliver; her parents; her siblings and their spouses: Gavin (Ethel) Kittelson, Floyd (Evelyn) Kittelson, Evelyn (Norine) Danielson, Clifton (Joyce) Kittelson, and Odell (Margaret) Kittelson; nephews Carleton Kittelson and Paul Danielson.
Left to cherish her memory are many nieces, nephews, and their families, as well as dear friends.

Fay Alice Osberg, age 93, of Cokato passed away October 5, 2021 at the Cokato Manor. She was born January 12, 1928 in Litchfield, MN to Lester and Hazel (Cropp) Wischmann. Fay was united in marriage to Donald Osberg on July 15, 1955 at the Lutheran church in Dassel. She worked as a bank teller at the State Bank in Cokato. Fay and Don spent winters in Florida and Arizona, doing craft shows and flea markets.
Survived by her children, Cathy Stevenson, and Walter (MaryLou) Osberg, grandchildren, Stefanie Cohen, Brian (Stephanie) Stevenson, Amon Osberg, Anthony Osberg, and Derek (Jennifer) Osberg, and 8 great-grandchildren, Elianah, Emma, Nathan, Maggie, Lucy, Sabrina, Jania, and Lydia.
Preceded in death by her husband, Donald, sister, Lola Lohse, sister in-law, Janet Varland, son in-law, Paul Cohen, great-granddaughters, Devorah and Leika Cohen, and grandniece, Ashlie Anderson.
A memorial service will take place at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato with visitation 1 hour prior to services. Masks will be required for attendance. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Edward Stolka, age 89 of Waverly, MN passed away on October 9, 2021. He was born the 8th of 9 children on January 8, 1932 in Mahnomen, MN to Frank and Marie (Drsek) Stolka. Baptized January 17, 1932, received first communion on July 1, 1939, and was confirmed June 18, 1945 at St Michael’s Catholic Church in Mahnomen, MN. He attended school in Mahnomen and served his country in the US Army for 2 years during the Korean War from July of 1952 to April of 1954. Ed was a machine operator at Hub Manufacturing in Minneapolis and later worked at Midwest Expanded Metal in Waconia, MN. He was united in marriage to Gloria Specht on August 11, 1956 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He later married Gladys Glessing on February 5, 1983 in their home.

He enjoyed woodworking: making whirly gigs, wishing wells, windmills, birdhouses. He could repair most anything. He also enjoyed camping, loved playing with his grandchildren and gardening: marigolds and geraniums. Ed spent a week in June each summer fishing in Spooner, WI and would use his spare time to mow his, his neighbor, David’s, and his friend, Janet’s lawns.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Gladys, siblings, Frank (Betty) Stolka, Verna (Leonard) Berg, Rose (Jim) Rys, Charles Stolka, Anna (Fred) Schmidt, James (Berniece) Stolka, Marie/Mary (“Hap”) Clausen, Helen (Charlie) Reitz, and grandson, Troy Sherrer of McGrath, AK.
Survived by a special friend, Janet Midtling of Cokato, MN, best buddy, Willy Haavisto of Cokato, MN, children, Doug Stolka (Andy Reynolds) of Delano, MN, Annette Bendtsen (Chris Skelton) of Milaca, MN, Frank (Lori) Stolka of Delano, MN, step children, Gail Sherrer of Portland, OR (Doug Sherrer of Fairbanks, AK), Denise Glessing Dyreson (Bernie Dyreson) of Delano, MN, Dennis (Vicky) Glessing of Howard Lake, MN, grandchildren, Brent Stolka, Tracy Friedman, Joseph Bendtsen (Kayla Boerma), Crystal (Chris) Bailey, Matthew Bendtsen, Heather Coleman, Kevin Stolka (Emlie Vigil), Shane (Andrea) Dyreson, Kevin Brigham (Kayla O’Donnell), Hilary (Nate) Schlosser, Cassie Brigham, Jared (Cassey) Glessing, Corrisa (Kirk) Haugan, Jessica Glessing, Melissa (Steve) Clark, great-grandchildren, Annabelle Bendtsen, Brendon Silva, Benson Stolka, Powers Bailey, Bentley Krueger, and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN with Father Kenneth O’Hotto officiating. Visitation from 9-10:45 at Church on Saturday. Interment following lunch at Howard Lake Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Brent Stolka, Joseph Bendtsen, Kevin Stolka, and Jared Glessing, and nephews, Raymond Schmidt and Phillip Schmidt. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, Minnesota, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-543-3401

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On Sunday, October 10, 2021 Luella Norberg, age 92, of Cokato was sitting in a pew at her beloved church when she was suddenly taken to her heavenly home. Funeral services are Friday, October 15th at 1:00 p.m. at North Crow River Lutheran Church at rural Cokato with Rev. Marianne Zitzewitz officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation is Friday at the church from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred and will be given to charities that were important to Luella. Arrangements are with Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato.

Note: due to the church’s Covid funeral policy masks are required by all when inside the church.

Luella Mae Norberg was born February 8, 1929 in Little Falls, MN, to Albert and Florence (Pantzke) Lilga. She grew up in rural Little Falls farm, and attended country school, which was right at the bottom of their farm driveway. She graduated from Little Falls High School and then attended vocational school in Hopkins to study bookkeeping. She was subsequently employed by Minneapolis Moline in Hopkins. She met Gordon Norberg at a gathering in French Lake. After several years of courting, they were married June 27, 1953 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls. They made their home on the Norberg farm at rural Cokato and were blessed with four children. Besides being a homemaker, she was a farmwife that helped bale hay and milk cows, and always had a big garden. For many years she raised chickens with a brisk business of selling eggs to the neighborhood and beyond. She was a wonderful cook and within a month of marriage learned what it meant to “feed a thrashing crew”. Luella’s faith was always important to her and served her church in many ways. She enjoyed quilting with her church friends, was an avid reader, and with her green thumb could resurrect most needy plants. Gordon and Luella moved into Cokato in 1989 and he passed away in 2010. Shortly after that she moved into Edgewood Gables in Cokato and later Brookridge Assisted Living where she enjoyed the companionship of many.

Luella is survived by her four children: Lynnette (and Gordy) Blem of Olivia, Kathy (and Mike) Miller of Annandale, Peter (and Lori) Norberg of Indianapolis, IN, and Mark Norberg (and special friend Vinita Kardell) of Cokato; her 11 grandchildren: Amy (Vlad) von Barnes, Anna (Mark) Milner, Aaron (Amanda) Blem, Adam (Natalie) Miller, Isaaac Miller, Molly (Shaun) Uecker, Dani Norberg, Andrew Norberg, Melissa Norberg, Megan Norberg, and Victor (Shayla) Norberg; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Elaine Lilga; and close friend Dorothy Hansen. Luella was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gordon; her two siblings: Art Lilga and Alt Lilga; and sisters-in-law Donna Lilga and Vicki Norberg.

Live Stream https://my.gather.app/remember/luella-norberg

Marqy Holm passed away at Mercy Hospital of Coon Rapids on September 30, 2021
Funeral Service: 11 AM Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 4-9 PM Tuesday, October , at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Wednesday. MASKS ARE REQUIRED.

Margy Lillie (Horsch) Holm was born February 4, 1942 in Howard Lake, MN to Raymond and Lillie (Melinsky) Horsch. She was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The family moved a bit but when Margy was 5, they settled on what became the family farm north of Howard Lake. She went to North Howard County School for one year and then went to public school in town. Seventh and eighth grade were at St. James Lutheran School where she was confirmed in 1956. In 1960 she graduated from Howard Lake High School. While in high school she detassled corn for Northrup King and also worked for Green Giant Canning in Cokato.
After graduation, she worked at Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis, the home of the original weather ball. On the night of the Aquatennial parade in July 1960, she became engaged to Carl Holm of Cokato. On October 15th of 1960, they were married at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. They lived in Minneapolis until the spring of 1961 when they moved to Cokato.
Upon moving to Cokato, she worked at Pioneer Telephone Company, Fabri-Tek Corporation and Midland Co-op. In March of 1982 she went to work at Crest (Electronics) Healthcare Supply in Dassel, where she managed the warehouse for many years. She retired from Crest in September 2013. During her time at Crest, she took a short break for a few months and worked at Cokato manor but returned to Crest.
She and Carl went on many bus tours together. They toured almost all of the 50 states including Hawaii and twice to Alaska. They even got to Nova Scotia. Later she went to Germany, Austria and Switzerland with granddaughter Jamie. Another time she went to Italy with Jamie and her daughter Penny. The camping trips up north with their kids growing up were always special. Cannot forget the many Apple River trips with other family members as well.
Margy was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato with WELCA, quilting, the Corn Carnival church stand, Sunday School and for many years when her kids were in Sunday School she was involved in the Christmas program.
Margy was preceeded in death by her parents Raymond and Lillie and her husband Carl, as well as other dear family and friends.
Margy is survived by her children Ron (Heidi) Holm, Scott Holm, Penny (April) Peterson, grandchildren Jacob Holm, Ashley (Christian) Dauer, Jamie Peterson and great granddaughter Finley Margy Dauer. Step-grandchildren Brandon, Stephen, & Ashley Zwirn. Margy is also survived by siblings Donnie (Norine), John/Chub Horsch, Harlan Horsch, Pauline (Bob) Bellah, Verla (Roger) Olson, in-laws Chester Holm and Arlene (Jim) Phinney. She also left behind many nieces, nephews and very dear friends that will miss her dearly.