Laurie John Lehtinen

LAURIE J. LEHTINEN, 86 Funeral services 11:30 A.M. Thursday, April 21, 2011 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo with Rev. Charles Barnes officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service. Burial will be in the Rauha Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Memorials to the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church are preferred in lieu of flowers. Laurie John Lehtinen, 86, born October 16, 1924 in Palo, Minnesota to Senja and John Lehtinen, died peacefully at Essentia Health-Northern Pines Hospital on April 16, 2011. Laurie was a lifelong resident of Palo. Laurie was a veteran of World War II serving in the 82nd Airborne. Laurie was part of the Allied Airborne Invasion of Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of Paris. Laurie owned and operated the Lehtinen General Store in Palo with his wife, Betty. Laurie also worked each construction season as an equipment operator and service truck driver for many years for Associated Builders, Inc (ABI). Prior to retirement, Laurie worked for the Town of White. Laurie was an entrepreneur having operated a milk truck business that collected milk from area farms. He also briefly operated a snowmobile sales franchise, and a septic tank pumping business with his brother-in-law, Russell Niemi. He delivered fuel oil, trapped and sold minnows, repaired tires, operated a small sawmill, serviced automobiles, operated a small excavating operation, and later in his career built fine handcrafted furniture. He branded his solid oak furniture with a hot iron that said “Hand Crafted by Laurie Lehtinen”. He was a master Finnish craftsman skilled as an electrician, carpenter, mechanic, plumber, and able to operate, repair, or even fabricate most any piece of equipment needed at the Lehtinen General Store, garage, or farm. When faced with a challenging equipment problem Laurie used to say “If a man made it, a man can fix it”. He would usually figure out a solution. Laurie is survived by his daughters: Wendy Reagan, (Patrick Simzek) of White Bear Lake, and Becky (Greg) Anderson of Coon Rapids, and son, Larry (Teresa) Lehtinen of Lake Eshquaguma; granddaughters: Kelly (Kristina) Reagan, Katharine Reagan, Jennifer (Chad) Lindberg, Heather Peterson Haluptzok, Jessica (Jonathan) Sgarlata (Lehtinen); grandsons Matthew (Nicole) Lehtinen, and Lucas Lehtinen (Sara Niklas-fiancee), great grandchildren: Ethan Lehtinen, Elizabeth Lehtinen, Mason Sgarlata, Chase Sgarlata, Joseph Lindberg, Eleanor Lindberg, Cayla Haluptzok, Carter Haluptzok, Cambry Peterson, Noah Reagan, Ryan Reagan, Tanner Reagan, Parker Reagan, and Khalil Span: sister-in-laws: Lucille (Russell) Niemi , Angeline Lehtinen, numerous nieces and nephews, and companion of recent years, Shirley Maki. Laurie was preceded in death by Betty, his wife of 56 years, parents, John and Senja, sisters, Thelma Niemi, Eleanore Koste, and Grace Karppinen and one brother Lester Lehtinen