Elsie Sarkela

Elsie I. Sarkela
Elsie I. Sarkela, 84, Iron, MN, was called home by our Lord on Nov. 22, 2011, after battling a long illness.  Elsie was born in Ely, MN on August 27, 1927 to Paul and Hilja Kaurala and was a childhood resident of the Babbitt/Embarrass area.  She started school at the Embarrass School # 74 through the 6th grade and graduated from Embarrass High School in 1945.  She worked part time at the Virginia Hospital and eventually met and married Paul Sarkela  in 1950.  Elsie was a homemaker and mother for 26 years and worked part time at the Virginia Shirt Factory.  After the loss of her husband, Elsie returned to work at Independent School District 2142 where she worked in the school kitchen.  She went on to become a certified food service director and was the head cook at Forbes Elementary School and later was the head cook at Cherry High School until she retired in the 1990’s.  Later, she worked part time at the K&B Drive-In where she made pasties until the late 1990’s.  She was a member of Faith United Lutheran Church in Iron, MN and numerous bible study groups.  Elsie kept a strong Christian faith throughout her entire life.
She loved gardening, music, baking, cooking, sewing, knitting mittens for the children, crocheting, and traveling, including a memorable trip to Finland with her sister.  Elsie enjoyed fishing and camping at Crow Lake, which was like a second home to her family in the summertime.
She is survived by a daughter, Carol (Rod) Soyring of Fergus Falls, MN; sons Charles Sarkela of Laurel, MT, Jon (Sue) Sarkela of Iron, and Ross Sarkela of Iron; 8 grandchildren:  Karl (Kari) Hagglund, Lucas (Abbigale) Hagglund, Paul Sarkela, Tomas Sarkela, Teresa Sarkela, Matthew (Andrea) Sarkela, Jennifer (Joel) Robison, and Shayla Sarkela; 3 great-grandchildren:  Jared Sarkela, Nathanial Sarkela, and Lillian Rose Robison, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 1976, her parents, brothers Paul and Lauri Kaurala, sisters Martha Kaurala, Esther Elleson, Miriam Dloniak, and Ora Folt.
Visitation will be Friday November 25, 2011, at Faith United Lutheran Church, Iron, MN, from 5—7 PM and also on Saturday in church from 9 AM until the 10 AM funeral service.  Interment will be in Cherry Cemetery.  Arrangements, Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing.

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