Eunice Rantala, 80, passaed on Dec. 4, 2007, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena.
She was born on Sept. 2, 1927, on the family farm in Leaf Lake Township, rural New York Mills. Her parents were the late Eli and Esther (Kauppi) Asmund. She grew up on the family farm in Leaf Lake Township until the Asmund family moved and made their home in Deer Creek Township, rural New York Mills, in 1929. She attended New York Mills High School and graduated with the class of 1945. She was employed at Folkstead Furniture as a secretary for a short time. She then moved to Minneapolis, where she was employed at Coca Cola as a secretary for 10 years. On Dec. 17, 1955, she was united in marriage to Ernest Carl Rantala at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills. Their marriage was blessed with a son, Ronald Rantala. They resided and farmed in Newton Township, rural New York Mills. On March 30, 2002, Ernie passed away. She continued to live on their family farm and work at the Senior Nutrition Center in New York Mills for the past 12 years. She enjoyed reading, listening to music and visiting. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Funeral services were held for Eunice Rantala at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills with Pastor Jon T. Haakana and Pastor Rod Krueger officiating. The hymns were sung by the congregation, accompanied by Janell Brakel. The pallbearers were John Asmund, Jerry Asmund, Dan Salo, David Salo, Bob Maki and John Pilegaard. The honorary pallbearers were Larry Selander, Larry Ahlfs and Paul Salo. Eunice was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery, New York Mills. Arrangements were provided by the Karvonen & Son Funeral Home in New York Mills.
Survivors include her brother and sisters, Marvin (Lucille) Asmund of Cambridge; Avis (Waldo) Leistico of Anoka; Myrna (Erwin) Paavola of New York Mills; sisters-in-law, Ida Pietala of Crystal; Ily Paananen of Glendale, Arizona; Ellen (Elmer) Linen of Wadena; many cousins and other relatives; and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eli and Esther; her husband, Ernie; her son, Ronald; and her brother, Wally Asmund.
