Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Marion Z. Perry (nee Gieske), age 94, of Howard Lake passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, May 10th, 2024.

She was born on November 18, 1929 in Northrop, MN – the daughter of Henry and Mabel (Lidke) Gieske. Marion graduated from Fairmont High School in Fairmont, MN in 1947.

On July 11, 1952, Clayton M. Perry and Marion Z. Perry were joined in holy marriage. God blessed their marriage with two children – twin boys David and Douglas.

Marion formerly worked for the Howard Lake Waverly Public Schools as an elementary school secretary for many years. She enjoyed working with children and teachers alike. She was also employed in Banking for many years in Minnesota and Arizona.

Upon retirement, Marion enjoyed her flower gardens and the Red Hats Club. She got much joy in life from her grandchildren – taking them to the County Fair and garage sales, reading books, picking flowers and playing ball in the back yard. She also enjoyed traveling and had trips with her family to Florida, Hawaii and Costa Rica.

Marion is survived by her children David (Janet) Perry, Douglas (Cory Graeser), four grandchildren – Megan Perry, Ryan (Rachel Brown) Perry, Jacob Perry, Justin (Katherine) Perry and three great grandchildren – Barrett Brown, Brynlee Brown and Millie Perry.

Preceded in death by her parents, two sisters (Della Borkenhagen & Deloris Kaphings) by two brothers (Orville & Harold Gieske) and her husband of 48 years – Clayton Perry.

A funeral service for Marion Z. Perry will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Mount Hermon Lutheran Church in Annandale, MN. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Pastor Paul Bravinder will be the Celebrant. A private Inurnment will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont, MN following the funeral service.

Urn Bearer will be Megan Perry. Honorary Urn Bearers will be Ryan Perry, Jacob Perry and Justin Perry.
The Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake is serving the family.

Dale Loren Jorgenson
August 15, 1942 – April 30, 2024

Dale Loren Jorgenson was born on August 15, 1942 and baptized on September 26, 1942. He confirmed his baptism on April 14, 1957 at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church.
Dale passed away at the Litchfield hospital on April 30, 2024 at the age of 81.
Dale grew up on a farm in Albion Township until the family moved to a home north of Cokato in the fall of 1959. He lived there until his passing.
Dale began his schooling in 1948 at Camp Lake School in Albion Township with 6 classmates. They all started school in Annandale as 6th graders in 1953. He graduated from Annandale High School in 1960. Dale was a part-time farmer; hauled milk for Albion Center Creamery; drove school bus and sold milking equipment for DeLaval Sales. He worked at Washington Scientific for 35 years and then at DeZurik in Sartell for 6 years.
Dale retired in the fall of 2006. He enjoyed collecting precision toy tractors and after his retirement he kept busy checking out the coffee shops in South Haven, Annandale, Cokato, and French Lake. He will be remembered for his capacity as a great debater and his commitment to his values.
Dale was a longtime member of Mt. Hermon Lutheran church. He attended faithfully in person and in spirit when his health wouldn’t allow him to attend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Dell Jorgenson; and brother, John Jorgenson.
Dale is survived by his sister-in-law Lorraine Jorgenson, nephews, Dr. Joel Jorgenson (Cristiane) and Michael (Debra), their children Erin and Krista, and other family, friends, and loved ones.

Visitation
Monday, May 6, 2024
10:00 AM
Stockholm Lutheran Church
16133 County Rd 30 SW, Cokato, MN 55321

Memorial Service
Monday, May 6, 2024
11:00 AM
Stockholm Lutheran Church
16133 County Rd 30 SW, Cokato, MN 55321

Rebecca “Becky” Jean Rasmussen (Skjei) was born on December 21, 1946, to Olai “Bob” and Blossom Skjei. She died on April 24, 2024, at her home surrounded by her family in Alexandria, MN.
Becky was born in Minneapolis, but she considered Madison, MN, her hometown. In Madison, she grew up, accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior at age 12 while at Bible camp, and later graduated from Madison High School in 1964. Because of the overwhelming kindness, empathy, and selflessness she exuded each day, (something that would continue her entire life) she was voted Homecoming Queen.
After graduation, Becky attended and graduated from University of Minnesota Morris with a degree in Elementary Education. At UMM, she was voted Snow Festival Queen and, most importantly, she met Dennis Rasmussen while there. The two were married in 1968 and moved to Peshtigo, WI where Becky earned her first teaching position in Marinette.
In 1971, Becky and Dennis moved to Little Falls, MN where they welcomed their three children. Jeff was born in 1972, followed by their daughters, Janelle, in 1974, and Heather, in 1978. They moved their family in 1979 to Alexandria where Becky continued her walk with the Lord by serving others for the rest of her life.
While in Alexandria, Becky worked for E. Arthur Brown Company as an Office Manager, a Home Health Aide, a tutor, and a volunteer. Most importantly, she spent her time as an amazing mother to her three kids. Becky again won Queen in 1985 – Best Mom of All Time – as voted on by her children.
Passionate about her faith, Becky and Dennis joined Alexandria Christian Church (later became New Life Christian Church) shortly after their move. Becky loved her time within the church community. She dedicated her time to volunteering with a variety of church activities – Sunday school, choir, Bible studies, AWANA, and helping in any way she could.
Becky will most be remembered by those that knew her as an incredibly kind, selfless person whose smile and positivity lit up any room she walked into. She will be greatly missed.
Becky was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Blossom (Lindseth) Skjei and her brother Craig Skjei. Becky is survived by her loving husband Dennis, her children, Jeff (Carrie) Rasmussen, Janelle (Fiancée Jake Hoffman) Uecker, Heather (Paul) Fernholz, her grandchildren, Madeline, Emma, Matthew, Anna, Alea, Hailey, Hannah, Katelyn, Albert, Isabelle, Caleb, Brock, Lucas, Macie, and numerous family and friends.
An informal gathering with be held at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake at 1:00 pm with viewing starting at 12:00pm on Saturday April 27, 2024, followed by internment at Howard Lake Cemetery.
A memorial service honoring Becky will be held on Saturday June 15, 2024 (also Dennis and Becky’s Anniversary) at New Life Christian Church in Alexandria, MN at 11:00 am.

If Grandpa can’t fix it, no one can. That pretty much sums up Rodney Jones.
Most recently, he enjoyed vanilla ice cream, sitting in his recliner and watching Andy Griffith or American Pickers while eating Diane’s cookies.
He was happily retired, liked to watch birds from the back porch, picking up sticks in the yard and working on his new old car.
His midlife consisted of working as a truck driver at Millerbernd’s and prior to that at Quast Transfer, both in Winsted. It also consisted of making sure no children put fingerprints on his vehicles. He didn’t drive them in the rain and definitely not in the snow.
His younger years consisted of farming, the National Guard Reserves, snowmobiling, wrecking cars and working hard.
He was a member of the Howard Lake Legion and St James Lutheran Church.
He was born at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis on May 15, 1951. He lived his life north of Howard Lake. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bonnie Jones. His children Nicole (David) Keskey, Ryan Jones and Crystal Jones. His grandchildren Cody Jones, Jade Jones, Ashley (Aidan) Toivola, Abigail Jones, Courtney (Dan) Nielsen, and Morgan Keskey. His great grandchildren Jackon Edwards and David Nielsen.
He was preceded in death by his parents George and Dorothy Jones, his mother-in-law Irene Gatz, and other family and friends.
To honor his memory, we are holding a memorial service at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­11 am, visitation starting at 10am. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Howard Lake Legion on May 11, 2024 from noon-2pm.
Now that his work on earth is complete, may his soul rest in peace.

Clara F.A. (Kemppainen) Nevala, 94, of Cokato, MN, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Clara was born on September 7, 1929, on the family farm in Pelkie, MI, to Antti and Anna (Tervonen) Kemppainen.
Clara attended a one-room school and graduated at the age of 16. After graduating, she worked on the farm for a few years, helping her mother who struggled with health difficulties. She briefly moved to Detroit before settling in Minneapolis, where she lived for many years with her close friend Anni Korpela. She was employed as a bookkeeper until her retirement in the early 1990s.
Clara was especially dear to her niece Marilee (married to Dan Wuollet), who once said “Clara was like a mother to me.” Clara called Marilee nearly every day on her lunch break. For the rest of the Wuollet family, Clara was a grandmotherly figure, celebrating holidays and birthdays with them. She was a regular, and sometimes formidable, presence in their home. She was particularly close to her great-nephew Paul Wuollet, who was severely disabled, and would sit with him, holding hands and singing.
Clara was a precious sister in faith to her church family as well. She endeavored in living faith to the end and wasn’t shy to share the gospel message with others. She faithfully served God’s kingdom for decades as a Finnish-English language interpreter, translating writings as well as sermons. She was a gifted vocalist, singing at many weddings and other occasions. She loved music and was inspired to write songs and translated several hymns into English. Her faith was her treasure.
On October 27, 1996, at the age of 67, she was united in marriage to Paul Nevala. Clara relished her new family and was delighted to have many stepchildren and step-grandchildren. The Nevala family lovingly welcomed her, thankful that their father, Paul, would have a companion and helpmate in faith. Clara and Paul moved to Brainerd in the fall of 1997 and lived there for many years. They enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends until Paul’s health began to fail. The family cared for them when they moved back to Cokato to live in assisted living apartments and eventually the Cokato Manor nursing home, and continued to care for Clara after Paul’s death in 2019.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband of 22 years, Paul; parents Antti and Anna; sisters Martha Jurmu and Dorothy Pelto; and brothers Fred (infant), Waino, Uno, Donald, Ralph, Hugo and Harold. Surviving are dozens of nieces & nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews, stepchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place on Monday, April 1, at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church from 4-8PM with a prayer service at 7PM.
Funeral services for Clara will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, April 2, at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church, with visitation for one hour before the service. Interment will be at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534