Elmer Pihlaja

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman, MN.VISITATION : 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. on Friday, July 23, 2010 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN, and for one hour prior to services.INTERMENT : Snellman Cemetery in Snellman, MNSURVIVORS : His wife, Opal of Snellman; four daughters: Kathleen Lowe of Layton, Utah, Linda (Tony) Harris of Osage, Judy (Russ) Mattson of Osage and Sandra (Craig) Stilke of Detroit Lakes; daughter-in-law, Linda Pihlaja; fourteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Clarence Pihlaja of Snellman; sister, Ruth Hanson of Frazee; two sisters-in-law, Virginia (Jeff) Swenson of Ponsford and Janice Latto of Osage; many nieces, nephews and friends. Elmer Arthur PihlajaApril 20, 1927 " July 19, 2010 Elmer Arthur Pihlaja, 83, of Snellman, MN joined his sons in Heaven on Monday, July 19, 2010. He was a resident of The Heritage Cottages in Park Rapids at the time of his passing. Elmer Arthur Pihlaja, son of Arthur Peter and Impi Irene (Longfors) Pihlaja was born on April 20, 1927 in Duluth, MN. As a young child he lived in Duluth, Butte, Montana and Snellman. In 1930 his parents purchased the home place where he grew up and returned to retire in 1996. He attended and graduated from District 82 Country School in Shell Lake Township. In 1944, Elmer moved to Seattle, Washington. He served with the Army Transport Services in the Aleutian Island from 1945 to 1946. On July 2, 1947, Elmer and Opal Rosemary Jellum were married at St. John"s Lutheran Church in Height of Land. Following their marriage, they lived in Snellman, Chicago, Illinois, Ponsford and retired to his home place in August 1996. Elmer worked for the Anaconda Cooper Mining Company in Butte, Montana from 1948 to 1949. In 1964, the family moved to the Ponsford Prairie where they engaged in dairy and grain farming for the next thirty-two years. Elmer was a member of the 49"ers and worked as a cement finisher. Elmer loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile and travel. He enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, family celebrations on the home place, Fourth of July at the lake and boating at Isle O" Royale with his son and grandsons. Truck driving was his passion; he drove for Holmer Trucking in Osage and Foltz Trucking in Detroit Lakes. Elmer cherished his family and loved family gatherings on the home place with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister, brother and their families. Elmer was a lifelong member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman, where he served as an elder and on the church council for many years. Elmer was very honored to assist with communion at the confirmation of three of his grandchildren: Jessica Mattson, Rory Mattson and Tyler Stilke. Elmer helped build the current Gethsemane Lutheran Church, which was completed in 1976. His daughter Judy and her husband Russ were the first couple to be married in the church in June 1976. He is survived by his wife, Opal of Snellman; four daughters: Kathleen Lowe of Layton, Utah, Linda (Tony) Harris of Osage, Judy (Russ) Mattson of Osage and Sandra (Craig) Stilke of Detroit Lakes; daughter-in-law, Linda Pihlaja; fourteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Clarence Pihlaja of Snellman; sister, Ruth Hanson of Frazee; two sisters-in-law, Virginia (Jeff) Swenson of Ponsford and Janice Latto of Osage; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Roger and Lyle; one grandson, Joshua Mattson; and one granddaughter, Rachel Mattson. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman with Rev. W. F. Neumann officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2010 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids. Interment will be held in the Snellman Cemetery. The Casket bearers will be his grandsons: Joseph Pihlaja, Jerold Pihlaja, Shawn Patson, Capt. Ryan Lowe of the U.S. Army, Ross Mattson, Rory Mattson, Sgt. Travis Mattson of the MN National Guard, Tyler Stilke and Trevor Stilke. The honorary casket bearers will be his granddaughters: Jane Dolan, Tammy Patson, Stephanie Beaudoin, Tracie Koskela and Jessica Mattson. Following the services a luncheon will be provided by the Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.