Raphael Aurelius Aho

RAPHAEL AURELIUS AHO March 22, 1919 - August 22, 2014 Raphael Aurelius Aho, age 95, a life-long Menahga/Wolf Lake, MN area resident, passed into eternal life on Friday, August 22, 2014 at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena, MN with loved ones at his side. Raphael was born to Jacob and Anna (Rosendahl) Aho on March 22, 1919 on their farm in Wolf Lake Township. He was raised on the Aho Big Farm and attended the nearby Wolf Lake Township country school. As a young man he farmed with his father and siblings. He enjoyed working with cattle and especially enjoyed doing field work with his teams of horses. He often would memorize scripture on the long days spent working in the fields. On December 23, 1942, he was united in marriage to Linda Helen Loviisa Paananen at the home of Pastor Henry Alajoki in Runeberg Township. They were blessed with 20 children. In 1950, they purchased a farm near Hillview where they actively engaged in dairy farming for more than 40 years. Raphael was a charter member of the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church. He felt a need for a strong Bible-teaching church that would feed his children with God's Word, so he was one of a few men who raised funds and served on a committee to write the church bylaws. He even used his horse teams to skid logs cut from the Wolf Lake Hills to the Aho Big Farm sawmill for the lumber to build the new church. He also worked alongside other dedicated men in the church construction. In his spare time, he enjoyed studying languages and taught himself to speak and read Swedish. Raphael and Linda made three trips to Finland to visit many friends and relatives. He loved to work with animals, especially dogs, raising a border collie/Australian shepherd mix with the last litter arriving on his 95th birthday. He also raised and sold many Holstein bulls. Each spring he looked forward to planting a big garden and sharing his produce, especially vinegar cukes. He will be long remembered for his keen mind and sharp memory. Throughout his life, he loved to memorize scripture and study God's Word. He was a great conversationalist and enjoyed visiting with people. Is (Dad) had a tremendous love for his wife of nearly 72 years. Every night he would ask, "Miss iti?" (Where's Mother?) and then they would pray the Lord's Prayer together in Finnish. He devoted his life to being a godly husband and father. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons in infancy, Carl and Matthew, two grandchildren, Jeffrey and Ruth Aho; seven brothers: Uno, Urho (Emmi), Toivo, Arvo, Hugo, Paul and Joel; five sisters: Helmi, Anna and Alli Aho, Ilma (Art) Suomala and Rauha Aho; in-laws: Reuben and Esther Hendrickson, Alvin Paananen and Ernest (Hilda) Paananen. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Linda; his 18 children: Armas (Pat) Aho of Menahga, Wilho (Diana) Aho of Sebeka, Ellen (Reuben) Tumberg of Sebeka, Elma (James) Keskitalo of Ottertail, Miriam (Glen) Mursu of New York Mills, David (Wanda) Aho of Rindge, NH, Jacob Aho of Menahga, Aila (David) Somero of New Ipswich, NH, Susan (Michael) Keskitalo of Ottertail, Melvin (Sari) Aho of Vancouver, WA, Mark (Shari) Aho of New Ipswich, NH, Julius (Terrie) Aho of Sebeka, Sarah (Roland) Seppala of Woodruff, SC, Calvin (Wanda) Aho of Brush Prairie, WA, Ruth (Andrew) Farrey of Brush Prairie, WA, Andrew (Patty) Aho of Sebeka, Sandra (Roger) Hannu of Duncan, SC and Raphael Terry (Renee) Aho of Rindge, NH; 130 grandchildren; 208 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Elsie Aho of Wolf Lake; and In-laws: Reino and Lillian Paananen, Elaine Paananen and Art and Hazel Skoog, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church near Wolf Lake with Rev. Dennis Hannu and Rev. Elmer Yliniemi officiating. The casket bearers will be Raphaels ten sons. Interment will be in the Balmi Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church and will continue at 10 AM Wednesday prior to the service. A luncheon reception will be held at the church following the service. To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.cardinipearson.com