Paul Alto > Mother 03.12.11

      Helen (Mattila) Alto, 93, Alexandria, died at the Knute Nelson home on Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Helen was born on her family farm in Douglas County on March 3, 1918, the daughter of Arvid and Lydia (Ylemattila) Mattila. She attended District #5 School in Moe Township, Brandon and graduated from Alexandria High School. She continued her education at St. Cloud State University, receiving her teaching degree.
Helen started her teaching career in a one-room country schoolhouse. She later taught at Miltona and then at Lincoln School in Alexandria. Helen enjoyed her flower gardens, reading about her Finnish heritage, assisting with the genealogy of her family, and spending time with family and friends.
Helen has blessed her family with a legacy of strength, independence, the power of hope and humor and the quiet dignity of grace.
She is survived by her children, Steve (Nancy), Paul, Dennis Alto, Mary Frendin; grandchildren, Daniel, Deborah, Denise, Mike, Stacey, Kevin, Lorrie; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Katie, Nathan, Ana; brother, Howard Mattila; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arvid and Lydia Mattila; brothers, Ed, William, Oscar, Axel, Stanley and Charles; sisters, Hilda Maria, who died in infancy, Hilma Bukkila, Martha Howard, Mayme Lahti and Elma Pucher.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 16 at Anderson Fune

Cheryl Gesell > Mother 2.27.11

      Irene B. Gesell, 85, of Miltona, died Sunday, February 27, 2011 at Knute Nelson in Alexandria.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, March 4, 2011 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Miltona with Rev. William Stockman officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Debbie Joachim. Burial will take place at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the Lind Family Funeral Home in Miltona and continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Irene Bertha Gesell was born July 21, 1925 to August and Anna (Betterman) Grothmann in Grandin, North Dakota. She grew up in Grandin, attended public school and graduated in 1942. Following her education she worked on the family farm and as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Fargo, North Dakota.
She was united in marriage to Sylvester “Sy” Gesell on June 21, 1948 at Grace Lutheran Church in Grandin. Following their marriage they moved to rural Miltona. They lived in Menahga for several years before returning to Miltona where she and her husband purchased the Miltona Locker. They worked together for many years until their retirement. Her husband, Sy, died on August 1, 2004.
Irene was a member of the Miltona American Legion Auxiliary and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir and solos at weddings and funerals. Irene enjoyed bowling, baking, embroidering, flower gardening and keeping a meticulous home and yard.
Irene is survived by two sons, Mike (LuAnn) Gesell and Paul (Nancy) Gesell, both of Alexandria; four daughters, Cheryl (Matt) Frantesl of Flippin, Arkansas, Joan (Kevin) Blatz of Emmett, Idaho, Lori (Loel) Hawkinson of Miltona and Linda (Tracy Zubrod) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; sister, Elaine (Robert) Johnston of Parkers Prairie; 15 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; four brothers, Willie, August, Carl and Hank; and three sisters, Anna, Martha and Marion.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Tyler Renner, Tanner Renner, Hannah Eggert, Chelsea Denny, Brianna Gesell and Whitney Gesell. Honorary pallbearers will be her remaining grandchildren, Cherene Edwards, Haley Kirby, Aimee Paullin, Ashley Roberts, Jeffrey Gesell, Gregory Gesell, Mitchell Gesell, Shane Gesell and Jared Gesell.
Arrangements are by Lind Family Funeral and Cremation Service, www.lindfamilyfh.com.