Frances Eleanor Hepola, 82, died May 7, 2006, at the Elders Home in New York Mills.
She was born Jan. 28, 1924, at home in Newton Township, rural New York Mills to Frank and Matilda Tillie (Anderson) Eklund. She attended country school District 175. She grew up working on the family farm in Newton Township. She married Edmund William Hepola on July 27, 1946 at the parsonage in Wadena. They lived in New York Mills. She worked in various grocery stores in New York Mills. She also worked at the Co-op Hardware Store in New York Mills for 17 years until her retirement in 1990. She and her husband enjoyed life in New York Mills. He died on Nov. 22, 2000. She has been cared for at the Elders Home in New York Mills, Minnesota since December 29, 2000. Fran enjoyed gardening and especially growing flowers and inside plants. She also enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Rush Lake and holding her own garage sales. She was a member of the St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church in New York Mills and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Her funeral was at 11 a.m. Wednesday (May 10) at St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church in New York Mills with the Rev. Steve Dahl officiating. Casketbearers were Brian Maki, Mike Niemela, Maynard Falk, Don Vandermay, Jay Leaderbrand and Ken Maki. Burial was in St. Peters Cemetery in New York Mills. Arrangements were provided by the Karvonen & Son Funeral Home in New York Mills.
Survivors include her daughter, Lynae (Brian) Maki of Ottertail; her son, Terry (Diane) Hepola of Perham; four grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Rachel Eklund of New York Mills.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Robert Bob Eklund and half brother, Henning Eklund.
