Anna Sophia Alanen

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11 AM Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church near Wolf Lake with Rev. Elmer Yliniemi officiatingVISITATION : 5 to 8 PM Friday, May 29th at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and again at the church on Saturday beginning one hour prior to the servicesINTERMENT : Snellman Cemetery SURVIVORS : She will be lovingly remembered by her two sons: Arvo William (Jane) Alanen of Scottsdale, AZ and Richard Alanen of Osage, MN; her three beloved grandchildren: Kathleen (Gerald) Byykkonen of Howell, MI; Kenneth (Donna) Alanen of Tempe, AZ and Aaron (Anne) Alanen of Pheonix, AZ; 7 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. ANNA SOPHIA ALANEN May 31, 1917 " May 21, 2009 Anna Sophia Alanen, age 91, a long time resident of the Osage-Wolf Lake, MN area, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at the Frazee Care Center in Frazee, MN with her loved ones at her side. Anna was born the second of five children to Peter and Sophia (Karjalainen) Pesola in New York Mills, MN on May 31, 1917. She attended the Toad Lake Country School near her home. Following the untimely death of her father in 1924, her mother married LauriWesterinen who helped raise the children as their own. On August 31, 1935, Anna was united in marriage to John Arthur Alanen in Snellman, MN. This union was blessed with three sons: Waino Arthur who died in infancy, Arvo William and Richard Kenneth. The young couple engaged themselves in dairy farming in Wolf Lake Township near Osage. Anna devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and sons. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious homemade breads and cakes. In her younger years, Anna looked forward each spring to raising beautiful flowers into colorful splendor for all to see and enjoy. She also nurtured her vegetable gardens into fruitful abundance to help meet the needs of her growing family. After farming for 36 years they retired in 1971. She was a woman of faith who enjoyed Christian fellowship at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church where she attended for most of her later life. In her spare time, Anna enjoyed knitting and hand work. Above all, Anna dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren who she loved with all her heart. She will be lovingly remembered by her two sons: Arvo William (Jane) Alanen of Scottsdale, AZ and Richard Alanen of Osage, MN; her three beloved grandchildren: Kathleen (Gerald) Byykkonen of Howell, MI; Kenneth (Donna) Alanen of Tempe, AZ and Aaron (Anne) Alanen of Pheonix, AZ; 7 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Anna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Waino; two brothers: Edward and Jacob and two sisters: Rose and Elsie. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church near Wolf Lake with Rev. Elmer Yliniemi officiating. The organist will be Deborah Aho. Casketbearers will be: Kenneth Alanen, Aaron Alanen, Gerald Byykkonen, Lee Byykkonen, Troy Byykkonen, Craig Byykkonen, Brett Byykkonen and Chad Byykkonen. The honorary casket bearers will be: Mark Byykkonen, Bethany Byykkonen and Kathleen Byykkonen. Interment will be made in the Snellman Cemetery. Following the funeral service the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church will host a luncheon for all. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday, May 29th at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and again at the church on Saturday beginning one hour prior to the services.