Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Rocklyn Dewey Lounsbury was born January 14th, 1954 in Litchfield, MN to Dewey and Lorraine Lounsbury. He graduated from Eden Valley Watkins in 1972. After high school, he worked at the Dassel hardware store for many years, Randt oil, Spee-dee delivery, and most recently the maintenance department at the Clinton house apartments for INH properties. Rocky was so easy going. He loved to visit with family and friends and always had to have his cup of coffee. He enjoyed watching sports, playing cards, and listening to old country music.
Rocky passed away suddenly on September 20th, 2018. Rocky is survived by his wife Peggy of Hutchinson, his children Amanda Lounsbury of Hutchinson, Aurora Lounsbury of Kimball and her special friend Gene, Laura Dooley of Hutchinson and her husband Dan, Adam Tabberson of Cokato and his wife Ashley, Chad Moehring of Faribault and his special friend Heather. His grandchildren Amber, Arin, Braeden, Calin, and Everly. His sister Bonnie (Terry) Ash of Milaca, brother Roger (Julie) Lounsbury of Litchfield, sister Becky (Wade) Kindseth of Litchfield, sister Kris (Von) Grotto of Paynesville, sister Jackie (John) McCann of Grove City, and many neices and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Lorraine Lounsbury and his sister Kathy Kadelbach.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 24, 2018 with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Elsie Delores Lantto, age 93, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, died Monday evening, September 10, 2018 at North Ridge Health & Rehabilitation in New Hope, MN.

Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2018 at Riverside Cemetery, French Lake, MN with Rev. Delroy Johnson of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, French Lake, officiating.

Pallbearers included nephews Daniel Sandell of Minneapolis, Thomas Lantto of Buffalo, MN, Peter Forare of Annandale, MN, Gary Lantto of Annandale, MN, Tim Mannie of Monticello, MN and William Josephson of Cokato, MN. Music was provided by Jack Vigoren.

Elsie Delores Lantto was born in French Lake Township, Wright County on November 4, 1924 to Alex and Hilda (Salmi) Lantto. One of twelve siblings, as a youngster, she attended Gunnary School and was known among her classmates for her athletic abilities. Her interest in sports carried over into her adult life and she was a long time enthusiastic fan of the Minnesota Twins & Vikings.

An avid fisherwoman, both fishing and ice fishing, she noted recently that she had lost her fishing partner, her nephew, Larry, when he passed away at the age of 64, but stated, with her keen sense of humor, that she wanted to “catch another big one before I go.” Other hobbies included woodworking, furniture refinishing and photography.

Until recently, she was a regular at the gym, working out on weights and strength training five days a week, then heading to Wuollet’s Bakery afterward for good Finnish coffee and a bakery item.

Elsie lived all of her adult life in the Minneapolis area and was employed with the McGarvey-Atwood Coffee Company until her retirement. She was known among all family members and friends for her kindness, generosity and quiet presence.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers & sisters Elmer, Emma Ollanketo, George, Harry, Ben, Robert, Mabel Forare, Mary Sandell and Anna Josephson.

Elsie will be sadly missed by those who survive her; brother and sister-in-law, Matt and Shirley Lantto of Annandale, MN as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Tom passed away at his home in Cokato on September 13, 2018 surrounded by his family.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Monday, September 17, 2018 at First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Dassel, MN.
Visitation: 4-8 PM, Sunday, September 16, 2018 at First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Dassel, MN. and 1hr prior to funeral service on Monday at Church.
Interment: Monday, at Cokato Finnish Cemetery.

Thomas Charles Aho was born October 16, 1945 in El Paso , Texas , the son of Melvin and Marian (Hasti) Aho. He lived his entire life in the Cokato area, working as a dairy farmer until 1986, when he started his second career with almost 32 years at Dura Supreme. Tom attended Ojanperaa Country School and graduated from Cokato High School in 1963. He was a lifelong member First Apostolic Lutheran Church . On August 19, 1972 he married Karen Marie Anderson. Tom and Karen worked hard to provide for their family, and yet give to others. His grandchildren will always remember the conversations and special attention they received.

Tom is survived by his wife Karen, children, Steve (Elizabeth of Hancock, MI , Lorna (Steve) Ryynanen of Dassel, James (Laura) of Mt. Iron, MN, Carl (Janet) of Cokato, Bill (Carri) of Dassel, Nate (Vicky) of Dassel, Joel (Shannon) of Atlantic Mine, MI, Ben (Gina) of Cokato, Todd of Cokato, Doug (Lana) of Cokato, Melissa (Nate) Keranen of Cokato, Josh of Aberdeen, SD, Brian (Kelli) of Springfield, IL, Seth of Cokato, Erin of Marquette, MI, sisters, Cathy (Pete) Heltunen, Mary (Dean) Niska, Margaret (Larry) Pokornowski, Helen (Marce) Polzin, Ruth (Bob) Anderson, Becky, brother, John, 58 grandchildren, numerous other relatives, friends and brothers and sisters in faith.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Tim, sister, Carol, and grandson, Nicholas.

Audrey M. Noyed, age 84, Cokato, died on Monday, September 10 at Cokato Manor.

She was born May 30, 1934, to Adeline and Lawrence Johnson of Grove City. She attended school in the Grove City area and graduated in 1952.

Audrey was widely known in the area for her upholstery skills. Along with her work at Richwell Furniture in Cokato, she also established her own business, Country Upholstery. For more than 40 years, she turned tired pieces of furniture into works of art, all from her small shop on the family farm. She had hundreds of clients and customers both in the area and throughout the state of Minnesota. She also assisted her husband John in operating the farm and was often called upon to help in a variety of ways.

She was married to John Noyed on April 27, 1957. They resided near Cokato for 52 years. After John’s death in 2009, she lived in the farm house they shared and later moved into an apartment in Cokato. She spent the past two years as a resident of the Cokato Manor.

She was preceded in death by her husband John; parents, Lawrence and Adeline Johnson; and brothers Merlin Johnson and Maynard Johnson and sisters-in-law Sharron Johnson & Delores Johnson.

Audrey is survived by her three children, Bev & Brad Bipes, Litchfield; Patti Albrecht & Dale Paulson, Cokato; and Bob Noyed & Susan Brott, Woodbury; five grandchildren, Kyle & Jen Noyed, Nashville, TN; Emily Noyed, Chicago, IL; Andy & Tiffany Bipes, Litchfield; Adam & Courtney Bipes, Litchfield; and Alex & Jennifer Bipes, Litchfield; four great grandchildren, Brooklynn, Bailee & Brantlee Bipes & Lucy Noyed; and her brother Milton Johnson, Brooten.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, September 14, 4-7 p.m., at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato with Pastor Tim Wheatley officiating. Interment will be at the Cokato Lutheran Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534.

Helen L. Nyquist of Howard Lake, MN, died on September 7, 2018, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Helen was born June 6, 1935, in Olivia, MN, to Caroline H. (Duehn) and Thomas E. Kirkpatrick during the Great Depression. It was a particularly hot drought year in which her mother herded cattle along the nearby railroad track to supplement small feed rations. Despite the depression, Helen had a rich and full youth participating in 4-H, musicals and plays, piano and organ playing, and ruckus gatherings with relatives and neighbors. Of course, trips to the library and reading were always important to her.

As a 1956 graduate of Swedish Hospital School of Nursing, she worked as a nurse at Swedish Hospital, Buffalo Hospital, Meeker County Memorial Hospital, Cokato Hospital, and the office of Drs. Houtz and Johnson. She loved her time as a nurse, especially working in the preemie nursery and fishing pills out of elderly mens’ beards who asked her to marry them.

She met the love of her life, Daniel W. Nyquist, at a church ice skating party. It was love at first sight. They married on September 4, 1959, and had four children: Mark Allen, Caroline Ruth (who died in infancy), David Eric, and Naomi Ruth. After Naomi was born, she retired from nursing and pursued many other adventures from being a farm wife and giving talks on how to care for sick baby calves, to teaching piano and working at local libraries. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, gardening, writing, and reading quality children’s literature out loud. She cherished her time attending music lessons and practicing with grandchildren. Above all, she was not afraid to speak her mind on topics of religion, politics, and the use of proper grammar, being especially fond of the Oxford comma. Finally, she wrote in preparation for her obituary, “Whoever writes this up can say I loved the Lord and trusted Him as my righteousness. I had no righteousness of my own.”

Survivors include her husband, Dan, her children, Mark, David (and Mariana), and Naomi (and Patrick); her adoring grandchildren, Corrie, Christina, Clarissa, Estera, Oliver, Aunne, Ezra, and Eleanor; and many relatives, friends, neighbors, and pastors. The family is especially grateful for Hutchinson’s Allina Hospice team. A simple graveside service was held on September 10 at Cokato Cemetery.