Grangroth (Arvola), Verna Esther
age 84, of Cokato, passed away on January 4, 2018 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN. She was born December 26, 1933 at home in Sebeka, MN to Hjalmer and Anna (Niemela) Arvola. Verna was baptized and confirmed in the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Sebeka. She graduated from Sebeka High School in 1952. On June 6, 1953 she was united in marriage to Harvey Grangroth at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Sebeka. This union was blessed with 13 children. They made their home farming in Waverly, MN until 1961, when they moved to Cokato. They continued to farm until they moved to town in 2003.
She loved spending time with her family, and baking apple pies, canning and selling their rag rugs, and baked and canned goods at the farmers market. Faith being very important to her, she was a current active member of the Cokato First Apostolic Lutheran Church.
Verna is survived by her husband, Harvey, children, Rebecca Grangroth, Deborah (Robert) Lasanen, Paul (Peggy) Grangroth, Bonita (Charles) Nikula, Diana Grangroth, Julia Grangroth, Timothy (Linda) Grangroth, Theodore Grangroth, Ann (David) Jones, Maria (Daryl) Martin, Wayne (Karen) Grangroth, Steven (Jodi) Grangroth, and Suzanne Bourque, 63 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren, siblings, Leslie (Louise) Arvola, Norma Hillukka, Joyce Kotila, Florence (Don) Halonen, Kenneth (Arlene) Arvola, and David (Mary) Arvola, and Richard North.
Preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Lila Johnson, and Ruth Leukuma, infant brother, Rudy, and grandson, Trent Grangroth, and great-grandson, Danny Lasanen.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 8, 2018 with visitation on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 5-8 PM and continuing 1 hour prior to the service on Monday, all at the Cokato First Apostolic Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534
Jan
05