Dorothy D. Lakela

Memorial service for Dorothy Darlene Lakela, 88, lifelong resident of Palo, will be 11am Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo with Pastor Jeanne Madsen officiating. Friends may gather one hour prior at the church. Burial will follow in the Rauha Cemetery. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.

Dorothy died Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Carefree Living in Aurora, Minnesota.

She was born November 22, 1936 in Palo, Minnesota to Hjalmer and Ailie (Lake) Trygstad. Dorothy was a 1954 graduate of Aurora High School and was a clerical worker for Range Municipalities. On June 15, 1957 she married Willard Lakela at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo.

She served as Secretary for Representative Fred Cina and was a teller at State Bank of Aurora for many years. She retired from K-Mart in Virginia as a customer service representative with 10 years of service.

Dorothy was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo, the Ladies of Kaleva where she was treasurer of the Grand Lodge, a member of the International Ladies of Kaleva and a member of the Palo-Markham Senior Citizens.

Survivors include her son, Jeffery Lakela of Chisholm; four grandchildren; (Twins) Michael (Kelli) Miner and Michelle Miner and (Twins) Jonathan Miner and Jennifer Miner; great grandchildren: Tyler, Adrianna, Isabelle and Georgia; brother, Arnold (Ruth) Trygstad of Sun Lakes, AZ; sister, Vivian Williams of Palo; son-in-law, Michael Miner of Virginia; numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hjalmer and Ailie; husband, Willard; daughter, Carol Miner; sister, Helen Skytta.