LaVerna Irene Ohlgren

LaVerna Ohlgren, 79, of Menahga, MN, passed away on June 7, 2021 at the Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, MN. She was born April 24, 1942, at the family home near Wolf Lake, MN to Elmer and Irene Puttonen. She was raised on the family farm near Sebeka. LaVerna was baptized as an infant and later confirmed at the Paddock Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Sebeka. She attended elementary through 8th grade at the Greenway School District 171 country school, to which she and her siblings had to walk a few miles to each day. LaVerna graduated from Sebeka High School in 1960. In August 1964, LaVerna was married to Allen Ohlgren in New York Mills, MN. They resided in Coon Rapids, Breckenridge, and Menahga before settling on a farm near Huntersville, MN. She worked at Honeywell before becoming a homemaker. LaVerna was also the quintessential Avon lady for the rural area she lived in. She was employed for several years at the Badoura State Forest Nursery, filled in as a cook at the Menahga School, served at the Menahga VFW, and was an office assistant at Americold food storage company in Park Rapids before retirement. After retirement, she would also work seasonally during the tax season at the front desk at her son’s CPA office in Elk River. She was a very committed & loyal fan of Menahga high school sports activities and other organizations her children & grandchildren were involved in throughout the past 4 decades. She was also a long time member of Crow Wing Park Ladies Club, First English Lutheran Church, held a secretarial position at the Menahga Senior Center, and had a small group of friends with their own Red Hat Ladies Club. In her later years, she loved her time with family and found great joy with her grandchildren. LaVerna is survived by her children; Tom (Mary) Ohlgren of Los Angeles, CA; Terry (Shelley) Ohlgren of Park Rapids, Traci (Steve) Moreland of Aitkin; Dan (Amanda) Ohlgren of Rogers; nine grandchildren: Jensen (Dan) Larsen, Thomas (Sara) Ohlgren Jr., Lauren Ohlgren, Allyson Ohlgren, Chloe (Levi) Wyse, Justyce Ohlgren, Hunter Moreland, Hayden Moreland, and Davin Ohlgren; one great-granddaughter Scarlett Larsen-Caroll; siblings: Kenneth Puttonen, Donald (Bonnie) Puttonen, Ella Kuha, Eugene (Vickie) Puttonen, and David (Rhonda) Puttonen; and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, son Dean Puttonen, sister Donna Sarbaum, and brother-in-law Willy Kuha. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 13, 5-7pm at the First English Lutheran Church in Menahga, with a prayer gathering at 6:30. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 14 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior, also at First English Lutheran Church. Interment following the service at the Alajoki Cemetery, then lunch at the church.