Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Mary Jane C. Fern, of Howard Lake, passed away on August 30, 2021, at The Gardens at Winsted in Winsted, MN. She had reached the age of 85 years.

Mary Jane was born in Elrosa Township, the daughter of Frank and Mary Moritz, graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1954, and was united in marriage to Ralph Fern on June 25, 1957, at Our Lady’s of Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. This forty-five-year union was blessed with five children.

Ralph and Mary Jane lived in Minneapolis, MN and Franklin, MN before moving to Howard Lake in 1965. She worked for 35 years in food service for Howard Lake-Waverly High School. She was active in Cub Scouts for a number of years, teaching catechism and helping with church functions at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Waverly. In her free time, she enjoyed cooking huge meals for her family, putting puzzles together, and visiting with people.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers and sister, and infant grandson.

She is survived by her five children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 10:30 AM with visitation from 9:30-10:15 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly. Celebrant of the Mass was Father O’Hotto.

Casket bearers were Amanda Fern, Leigha Workman, William Workman, Alexander Workman, Katherine Williams, and Thomas Henz.

Internment was at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

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

Helen F. Peterson of Cokato, passed away at Cokato Manor on August 28,2021.
Funeral Service: 11 AM, Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato.
Visitation: 4-8 PM on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr. prior to funeral service at church on Thursday.
Interment Cokato City Cemetery.
Helen Florence Peterson was born on May 30, 1929, in Sturgeon Lake Township, Pine County, Minnesota to Franklin and Agnes Holm.  She was baptized on December 28, 1929, by Pastor Franzen at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield, Minnesota.  Her sponsors were Carl and Selma Erickson.  She was confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato on April 18, 1943, by Dr. Paul H. Andreen. Helen attended Beaver Dam School, and Cokato High School. She married Eldon Chell Peterson at the Albion Free Church Parsonage, by Reverend Jay Cummings.  They had been married 63 years when Eldon passed away on June 17, 2009. Helen worked at Northland Canning, “The Sweet Shop”, Emma’s Café, Cokato Bakery, Log Cabin Café, and was a daycare provider for many years and loved it. One of her favorite events of the year was the Cokato Corn Carnival and every August she looked forward to preparing caramel rolls, cinnamon bread with cheese on it and coffee for the crew that set up the Lutheran Church’s corn carnival food stand.  She loved to bake for friends, bake sales and special events and she was well known for her delicious bars.  Helen also loved her vegetable garden. She enjoyed fishing and was a very hard worker. Helen was very active in her church and taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years.  She was active in WELCA and the Kitchen Committee, serving as chairperson for many years, and active on various committees at church. She volunteered endless hours at the Cokato Manor and received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1997. She would play hours and hours of puzzles and games with the grandchildren and great grandkids.  Her family and friends were very important to her. Helen passed away on August 28, 2021, at Cokato Manor. She had reached the age of 92 years, 2 months and 28 days.  She is survived by her children: Ruth Mesick of Champlin, MN, Duane (Darline) Peterson of Scottsdale, AZ, Bonnie Isaacson of Cokato, MN, and Todd (Karen) Peterson of Cokato, MN, 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
        Helen passed away on August 28, 2021, at Cokato Manor. She had reached the age of 92 years, 2 months, and 28 days. She is survived by her children: Ruth Mesick of Champlin, MN, Duane (Darline) Peterson of Scottsdale, AZ, Bonnie Isaacson of Cokato, MN, and Todd (Karen) Peterson of Cokato, MN., 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Chester Holm, sister Arlene (Jim) Phinney, sister-in-law Margy Holm, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Wally and Delores Sorenson and many nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Franklin and Agnes, husband Eldon, siblings, Evelyn Hintz, Edith Peterson, Carl Holm, Ronald Holm, and Stanley Holm, God daughter Connie Holst, sons-in-law David Mesick and Loren Isaacson. The family would like to thank the Cokato Manor staff for the compassionate care in Mom’s final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato for the Sunday School Department.

Daniel Vito Williamson was born on April 9, 1949, in Jamaica, New York (a borough of Queens) to Anna Catherine (Kelly) Williamson and Nelson Williamson. He passed away at the age of 72, on August 21, 2021, at the St Cloud Hospital, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Dan spent his childhood in the Bronx and Long Island, New York where he started driving oil trucks and working on furnaces in the Long Island area when he was 14. In 1969, Dan entered the military, proud to serve in the US Marines as a driver for the Colonel, stationed in Fort Pendleton, CA. He served for two years before transferring to the US Marines Corps Reserves, where he served for another two years. He was a member of the Kingston American Legion for 23 years. For most of his life Dan was an over the road truck driver, except for a few years when he ran Danny’s Towing. He was always driving something. There was not much about trucks and trucking that he did not know, and he enjoyed it all.

Dan met Marie (Hickman) Wendler in 1985, and they married in April 1990. The date was picked because it was Friday the 13th, which Dan felt was lucky. And it was – they enjoyed 31 years of marriage together.

Dan had a quick sense of humor and was always ready for a good story – he could visit for hours. Nieces and nephews remember him talking to them in his “Donald Duck” voice and his “meep meep / honk honk” as he bumped their noses. There was never a stranger in his life, only friends he had just met. He could and would talk to anyone. In the past couple of years, he enjoyed camping with the horses and relaxing around the campfire with friends and family. His family was able to fulfill his bucket list wish by visiting the Grand Canyon this past June.

Dan is survived by his wife Marie; children Daniel Jr (DJ) Williamson and Julie of California, Dennis Williamson of New York, Robert Wendler of South Dakota, James and Lisa Wendler of Virginia, Melinda Wendler of Buffalo, MN and Mark and Becky Wendler of Waverly, MN; brothers Joe and Al (Joanne) of New York; daughter-in-law Danielle Williamson. He is further survived by 22 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren – all of whom he loved deeply and was very proud of. Also surviving are brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and a great many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna Kelly and Nelson Williamson; mother and father-in-law Sylvia and Denzel Hickman; sisters Gloria Williamson and Jo Anne Williamson; brothers-in-law Clark Hickman and Martin Anderson; and great grandson Brayden Mazuera.

A funeral service will take place at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato. 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Born Lucille Blanche Lorence to Blanche and Edward Lorence of Silver Lake, MN on January 10, 1931. Lucille died on July 20, 2021 at the age of 90 of an aneurysm.

Lucille worked as a waitress for many years, stained cabinets for Dura Supreme and even worked at Tonka Toys. She was a foster mother to 23 children, one of which she fostered for 2 1/2 years, wanting to adopt her. She was denied that privilege because she cared so well for other children, the State didn’t want to lose her. She always talked about that lost opportunity. She was even recognized in the paper as raising “blue ribbon babies.”.

She married Earl (Dutch) Vogt and had two children, Randy and Victoria. After Dutch died, she married Donald Lanning and they had many good years together.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents who raised her (the Klimas), her parents, siblings, husbands Dutch and Donald, and daughter Victoria.

She is survived by her son, Randy (Susan) Vogt, step-son Mike Lanning, grandchildren Adam Vogt, Aurora Vogt, Anna Vogt, Naomi (Isaac) Hoard, Angelica (Nicholas) Nixon, Jeremiah Lindgren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

She enjoyed Country Music with her favorite singer being George Jones and especially loved Country Gospel. She was proud to be of Czech heritage. She loved hosting holidays for family and friends and always looked forward to the beautiful flowers and birds of the spring season. She had a contagious laugh and was always at the ready to be a listening ear and shoulder to cry on for those in need. She encouraged everyone to do what is right and focus on their faith in God. She was a mother figure to many. A special thank you to her neighbor, Vicky Hillman, for keeping an eye on Lucy and helping her many times. The family is very grateful. Lucille will be greatly missed.

Memorial Service 11AM, Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato

Pyper Elanora Shultz was born on July 29, 2021 to Seth and Cassandra (Fredricks) Shultz, at United Hospital of St. Paul. She passed away a short time later on July 30, 2021. In addition to her parents, Seth and Cassandra, she is survived by brothers Charles and Benjamin. She is also survived by her grandparents: Carl and Amy Fredricks, Kim and Byron Kotval and Damon and Caroline Shultz, as well as many other family members and friends. She is preceded in death by grandfather Jeffrey Borg, great grandparents Paul and Sharon Fredricks, Burton and Marlys Horsch, Lyle and Linda Jager, Dale Shultz and Marvin Archer.  

Memorial Service 2PM Thursday, August 5, 2021 at Stockholm Lutheran Church, South of Cokato.