Rhonda Rhea Jokela Annette

FUNERAL SERVICES: 2 PM Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Park RapidsVISITATION: 6-8 PM Monday, March 16, 2009 at Jones-Pearson Funeral HomeINTERMENT: Wolf Lake Cemetery SURVIVORS: She is survived by her son, Jay, residing in St. Louis Park, her parents, Eddie & Lorraine Jokela , brother, Randy Jokela (Denese), sister, Jolene Jokela-Veo (David), sister, Jody Jokela-DeCarlo (Nick) and brother, Jon Peter Jokela (Deb), plus nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends who will miss her very much. We thank her for the laughs, good times & wonderful memories she gave us! Rhonda Rhea Jokela was born, a second child, to Eddie & Lorraine on their third wedding anniversary, June 15, 1950. Her rural childhood days working on the family farm portrayed Rhonda's enthusiasm and love for animals and the outdoors. She began riding horses as a toddler and participated at area youth downhill ski camps and was an accomplished seamstress. She was also a talented musician and majorette in the PRHS marching band. She was also a football & wrestling cheerleader. She graduated from Park Rapids in 1968 and recently enjoyed her 40-year class reunion. She married John Annette of Ponsford; son David Jay was born the following year. They lived and worked in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Rhonda was employed by Northwest Federal S&L. She dedicated herself to her family, working hard at home and her full-time job until health problems ensued and persisted. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 25 years of age. She continued raising her son to the best of her ability, always conscious that her days were numbered to less than the average person. Rhonda played an integral part in organizing the first Park Rapids Rodeo in June, 1978. She took charge and helped guide this endeavor into the early 1980"s until moving west for more downhill skiing, which she believed would provide the exercise she needed to maintain her health. She enjoyed the mountain villages of Telluride, CO & Red Lodge, MT. In Telluride, she enjoyed rocking babies at the ski resort's daycare to earn her ski pass. She adopted a "granola" lifestyle and explored alternative health foods, remedies and treatments. She was an excellent cook. During the 1980's in Red Lodge, Rhonda served on the Home of Champions Rodeo Committee, danced for Finnish & other Days in the Festival of Nations, was a Winter Carnival Snow Queen, helped more severely disabled individuals gain independent living skills, and was a strong activist for handicapped accessibility to Red Lodge's sidewalks and stores. During her years in Red Lodge, Rhonda went from walking with a limp to using a cane, leg braces, a walker, and eventually a motorized scooter. She was enrolled in classes at MT State University, Billings for two years, riding her scooter around campus. As her illness progressed, so did her skiing. Rhonda was an excellent training subject for Eagle Mount using the mono-ski with her "oh well" carefree attitude and desire to do all she could to improve the quality of life for disabled persons. She didn't mind being a "guinea pig" as she said, for various experimental therapies and potential cures for MS. She was hopeful about a cure being discovered in her lifetime, and was willing to do all she could to help the cause. Her courage, tenacity and Finnish "sisu" (toughness) made her "best able to endure the hardships of this disease out of all our children," says her mother, Lorraine. Rhonda's reply, "I just keep on keeping on..." By 1996, the MS had taken a heavy toll on Rhonda's health. She relocated to Minnesota to be closer to family assistance. The disease progressed even more and weakened her to the point that she needed long-term nursing care. She lived at Trevilla of Robbinsdale, MN from 1997-2001 until moving to Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids where she has lived since. She has battled more frequent and more intense infections over time, which her weakened immune system could no longer fight with the strongest of antibiotics. For those wishing to send monetary condolences, please make contributions to the MS Society in honor of Rhonda, MS Society 200 12th Ave. S., Mpls. Mn. 55415-1255.She is survived by her son, Jay, residing in St. Louis Park, her parents, Eddie & Lorraine Jokela , brother, Randy Jokela (Denese), sister, Jolene Jokela-Veo (David), sister, Jody Jokela-DeCarlo (Nick) and brother, Jon Peter Jokela (Deb), plus nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends who will miss her very much. We thank her for the laughs, good times & wonderful memories she gave us!Rhonda was preceded in death by her older sister, Roxanne, in 1999.Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend James Neubauer officiating. Honorary casketbearers will be: Greg Bishop, Loni Magnuson, Brett Bishop, Quinn Bishop, Talia Bishop, Luke Jokela, Bridger Jokela, Drew Jokela, Mike DeCarlo, Colson DeCarlo, Logan Veo, Peyton Jokela. The organist will be Connie Shubert. Loni Magnuson & Jody DeCarlo will sing "Amazing Grace" & "I Can Only Imagine". Congregational hymn will be "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". Interment will be made in the Wolf Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 P.M. Monday, March 16, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN.