Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Esther (Peterson) Kelly
Was born 101 years ago in Minneapolis, MN to Margaret and William Peterson and went to meet her maker on June 19, 2019 at the Cokato Manor in Cokato, MN. Esther had a sister Alice and brother Arthur. She graduated form South High School in Minneapolis January 1936. She married Arthur (Bud) Kelly July 3, 1937. They were blessed with two children Pat and Jim. In 1951 they moved from Minneapolis to Mound (Island Park). Esther worked at Tonka Toys in the office from 1953 to 1983. She belongs to the Mound American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW. Volunteered at the Senior Center for a number of years. She moved to Howard Lake in 2001.
Survived by daughter Patricia (Wayne) Diers of Howard Lake, MN and son James (Lejla) Kelly of Montrose, MN, 6 grandchildren, Richard Diers, Wendy Diers, Brian (Jane) Diers, Bruno Kelly, Jill (Dean) Wrobbel and Mike (Shannon) Diers, 14 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by husband Bud Kelly, grandson Patrick Kelly, parents, sister, Alice Almstedt and brother Arthur Peterson.
A celebration of life will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour before the service. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Isabella J Yager was born in Bowdoin Montana to parents Michael and Elizabeth (Fischer) Joa on March 18, 1921. At the age of 3 the family moved to Shotley MN and farmed on the shores of Upper Red Lake. She attended Shotley Brook School then graduated from Kelliher High School. Isabella attended college in Minneapolis and worked there until she was married to Myron Yager at St Stephen’s Catholic Church in 1948. This marriage was blessed with 3 children. For 36 years they operated a dairy farm north of Waverly. In retirement they enjoyed traveling and wintered in Pharr Texas for 17 years. They then moved to Cokato MN where Isabella passed away on June 17th 2019 at the age of 98 years 3 months. Isabella was an active member of the community. She was an active member of St Mary’s Catholic Church, she was a leader with the Marysville Merrymakers 4-H club for 14 years, an American Legion Auxiliary member for 70 years, involved with many community organizations, bowling league and card clubs. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, embroidery, puzzles and was an avid reader. Her family always came first in her life. She and Myron enjoyed their many years of ballroom dancing and play cards with friends. She is preceded in death by husband Myron in 2007, infant Son, her parents Mike and Elizabeth Joa, Father and Mother-in-Law Erwin and Emma Yager, sister Eleanora McCarthy, Sisters and Bothers-in-Law Howard McCarthy, Joyce Yager, Lorraine (Bill) Wood, Gloria Feik (Jack Gausman), James Fondel, and Nephew John Feik. She is survived by sons Roland (Debra) of Corcoran, Dennis (Jeannine) of Cross Lake, daughter Sharon (Brian) Arvold of Minneapolis, 7 Grandchildren, 7 Great grandchildren, Sister-in-Law Lilly Mae Fondel, nieces, nephews and host of family and friends. Pallbearers are Stephen Slater, Jessie Lesmeister, Craig Yager, Peter Jetson, Nathan Arvold, and Josh Arvold. Visitation at St Mary’s Church in Waverly on Monday June 24th from 4-8 PM with a 7:30 PM prayer service. Visitation to continue on Tuesday June 25th from 10:00 – 10:45 AM prior to 11 AM mass. Internment at the Howard Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, Minnesota.

Paul Hendrick Nevala of Cokato, passed away at Cokato Manor on June 14, 2019
Funeral Service: 11 Am Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church.
Visitation: 4-8 PM Wednesday, at the Church
Prayer Service: 7 PM Wednesday at Church
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery
Paul Hendrick Edward Nevala was born on April 15, 1930 to Leonard and Hinni Nevala at the home of his grandparents William and Matilda Alajoki in Blueberry Twp, Wadena County, Minnesota. He was the third of nine children. Paul spent his early adult years helping on the family farm until entering the US Army at the age of 26. He was a PFC (Private First Class) with a specialty of AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) Gun Crewman and received a good conduct medal.
Paul married Martha Erickson in November of 1959, and they made their first home in Minneapolis. Paul and Martha were blessed with 12 children. While living in Minneapolis and later in Maple Grove, he worked as a shipping and receiving foreman for Northrup King Seeds. Paul was called to serve as a minister in the Minneapolis congregation in 1977. When he was laid off from Northrup King Seeds in 1984, he accepted a call from the Cokato congregation to be their full time pastor, and moved his family to Stockholm, MN. During many of those years, he also worked at the Laestadian Lutheran Church office in Plymouth. In the early 90’s, when his wife Martha became ill, he faithfully cared for her until her death in 1995. A year after Martha’s death, he was remarried to Clara Kemppainen. He then spent his years of retirement in Brainerd and Cokato. Paul and Clara spent time traveling, visiting children and grandchildren.
Paul developed multiple hobbies and skills throughout his life. He was an avid deer hunter who fondly remembered the fellowship of hunting together with his family and friends. He had many stories of hunts with his father, his brother Peter, and cousins Elmer and Reuben Alajoki and their father Henry. He was an expert marksman who kept his family stocked with venison, and prepared delicious meals with the meat. Along with hunting, Paul enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He also enjoyed music and in his younger years, he sang at several occasions at the request of friends.
Paul is remembered by many congregation members as a soft-spoken servant of the Word with a good sense of humor. He joined in their family celebrations, serving them at baptisms, weddings and funerals. He is remembered by his children as a caring father who often waited at the kitchen table until they returned home, sometimes late into the night. He lived a life of moderation with simple needs, trusting that God would provide for each day. To the end, his most fervent wish was to remain a child of God and to make it to heaven.
Paul is survived by his wife Clara, by his children: David (Tarja) of Spokane, WA; Dorothy of Cokato, MN; Lauri (Denise) of Monticello, MN; Thomas of Cokato, MN; Judith Siltala (Wade) of Cokato, MN; Lisa Kinnunen (Tommi) of Cokato, MN; Richard (Kathryn) of Buffalo, MN; Erick (Cindy) of Big Lake, MN; Matthew (Anna-Mari) of Kiiminki, Finland; Jonathan (Michelle) of Sebeka, MN; James (Marjo) of Kemi, Finland; 44 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; sisters Thelma Lehto (Reino) of Clatskanie, OR; Miriam Nevala of Sebeka, MN; Maria Jarvi (Ray) of Sebeka, MN; Edna Skoog (Harvey) of Prescott Valley, AZ. sister-in-law Evelyn Nevala of Menahga, MN. Paul was preceded in death by his parents (Leonard and Hinni); his brother (Peter); three sisters (Naemi, Hinni and Nora); his first wife (Martha); son (Alan); grandchild (Kate Nevala); and great grandchild (Ellie Kinnunen).

Darlene Marie (Smith) Drusch, age 80 of Howard Lake, passed away peacefully at her home on June 3, 2019 surrounded by her family.

She lived her entire life in or near Howard Lake. She was born September 19, 1938 in Minneapolis to Louis and Etta (Gebhardt) Smith. She had one brother, Gerald, and was raised on the family farm in Middleville Township.

Darlene was baptized on September 29, 1938 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly and confirmed May 10, 1964 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. She graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1956. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Winsted and most recently, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Buffalo.

In 1963, Darlene wed Donald Drusch, and they were married for 16 years. Together they raised six children: Steve, Connie and Joe (stepchildren), and three children together: Debbie, Danny, and Donna.

She worked for several years as a cook at Howard Lake High School and then worked at a local direct mail company for over two decades.

Darlene will be remembered for her love of family, always lending a helping hand, and her love of music. She especially loved guitar and piano and played in a polka band for many years. In her retirement, she loved to spend her mornings going for coffee with friends, gardening, solving word search puzzles, traveling to Colorado to see family, and going to flea markets and garage sales to find the best deal.

She is survived by her children: Donna (Steve) Gatz of Howard Lake, Danny Drusch of Woodland Park, CO and Debbie (Michael) Vialpando of Colorado Springs, CO; nine grandchildren: Laura (Nathan) Robinson of Delano, Krystal (Justin) Scheibel of Minneapolis, Brandon (Kassie) Gatz of Hutchinson, Michael (Kimberly) Vialpando of Colorado Springs, CO, Kaitlyn (Trevor) Goldberg of Colorado Springs, CO, Jaime Vialpando and Jordan Vialpando of Colorado Springs, CO; Bailey Gatz and Heather Gatz of Howard Lake; and two beloved great-grandchildren: Lily Robinson and Paul Gatz. She is further survived by her brother, Gerald (Maggie) Smith of Waverly.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Etta Smith.

A celebration of Darlene’s life will take place on Monday, June 10, 2019 at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake. Visitation will be from 2-4pm with a service at 4pm. The service will be officiated by Pastor Ryan Clark of St. John’s Buffalo, with special music by Bruce Gatz and Kay Knutson. Internment will be a private ceremony with family at a future date.

Beatrice passed away on May 25, 2019 at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Memorial Service: 11 AM Monday, June 3, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 1 hr prior to service at church on Monday
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery
Beatrice Main was born to Harry and Ethel (Swanson) Anderson on July 3, 1915. She was the oldest of 4 children, 1 sister Norma and 2 brothers Leonard and Dale. She was baptized as an infant and confirmed as a youth at Mount Herman Lutheran Church in Albion Township. She graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1933.
On June 1, 1934 Beatrice was united in marriage to George Main at Mount Herman Lutheran Church in Albion Township by Pastor Alex Sand. They made their home in Howard Lake. To this union 4 children were born.
Beatrice worked on the production line at Tonka Toys for 25 years before retiring in 1979.
Beatrice was an active member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, where she served on the Alter Guild and the Do-Day Quilters. In her final years at the Good Samaritan she enjoyed reading and doing word puzzles
Beatrice was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She is survived by her 4 children: Janice Pettit, Gene (Glee) Main, Gerald (Connie) Main and Thomas Main. 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her parents Harry and Ethel, husband George, sister Norma, brothers Leonard and Dale Anderson, son-in-law Paul Pettit and grandson Gregory Pettit.