Funeral Service for Esther Leona Beckala of Cokato will be at 11AM on Monday October 15, at the 1st Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel.
Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato
Prayrer Service: 7 PM on Sunday at the fuernal home.
Esther Beckala was born in Corona,
South Dakota, on September 6, 1910.
She was three years old when they moved to Summit,
South Dakota. When Esther was nine, the family moved to Milaca,
Minnesota.
They moved to Cokato in 1923 when Esther was thirteen. She attended Riverside
School which later was re-named Melquist
School where she finished eighth
grade.
She met and married Rognar Beckala also of Cokato, in
1932. Two children were born to this
union, son Vernon and daughter
Phyllis. They farmed north of Cokato for
most of their life. In 1967 they moved
to town.
Esther was a 4-H leader for many years, belonged to Home
Extension and also the Order of the Eastern Star. Esther worked at Green Giant for a number of
years and Richwell Furniture until retirement.
Esther and her husband spent ten summers north of Park Rapids. She was a very hard worker and was the
“queen” of recyclers before recycling ever came into existence. Esther made many miles of rag rugs. She pounded the loom for over 70 years. The most favorite being made of denim. Her rugs went to many parts of the
world. The shuttles on the loom have now
been stilled. She was an avid Minnesota
Twins fan, never missed a game on the radio.
Esther passed away at Dassel
Lakeside Care Center
on October 11, 1912. She had reached the age of 102 years 1 month
and 5 days. She is preceded in death by
her husband Rognar and daughter Phyllis Davidson, son-in-law Dale, her parents;
Otto and Minnie Evers and Brothers Ernest and Carl Evers, sisters-in-law Elvira
and Mary Lou Evers. Brothers-in-law;
James Haapala, Donald Skoog and Daniel Ceske.
Esther is survived by son Vernon and his wife Jeanette:
seven grandchildren: Debi (Tom) Menard and Chad (Denise) Beckala of Cokato,
Kent (Robin) Davidson of Annandale, Kelly (Shelly) Davidson of St. Cloud,
Dawnine Beckala and Stacy (Michael) Blackmun of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and
Jamie (Denise) Beckala of Toddville, Iowa.
Ten great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Further survived by sisters, Mildred
Happala of Cokato and Pearl Ceske of
Hutchinson.
A service of Christian Burial took place on Monday, October 15, 2012 at the
First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel, with Pastor Mark Koivisto
officiating. Diane Grangroth was the
organist. Interment was in the Cokato
Finnish Cemetery,
rural Cokato.
The Pallbearers were Kent Davidson, Kelly Davidson, Jamie
Beckala, Chad Beckala, Michael Blackmun and Tom Menard.