Plummer - Thomas Huotari, 87, died Monday, December 29, 1997 at the Pioneer Memorial Home in Erskine.
Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, December 31 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer with Reverend Clarence Johnson officiating. Linda Nelson will be the organist, and special music will be provided by DeeAnn Egeland and Cynthia Nielsen. Casketbearers will be Jim Wright, Don Fox, Ray Nenonen, Milt Peterson, Ed Eskeli and Melvin Eskeli. Burial will be at the Finnish Cemetery near Plummer.
Visitation was held on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 8 p.m. prayer service at Petterson Funeral Home in Red Lake Falls and for one hour prior to the services at the church.
Tom Huotari was born on March 21, 1910 at Monessen, PA, the son of Antti and Kaisa (Keranen) Huotari. He moved to Red Lake County near Plummer with his parents in 1912 where he was raised and attended rural school. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
On November 9, 1935 he was united in marriage to Wilma Eskeli at Plummer. The couple made their home in Garnes township east of Plummer until 1990 when they moved into Plummer. Tom has resided at Pioneer Memorial Home in Erskine for the past month.
He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he served as a board member, was the Garnes township supervisor for over 28 years, was a member of the Eagles Club of Thief River Falls and served on the creamery and Co-op store boards.
Tom is survived by his wife, Wilma of Erskine; one daughter-in-law, Lorna (Merle) Jesme of Plummer; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marie Christiansen of Superior, WI and Lillian Granholm of McIntosh; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Russell on October 7, 1990; his parents; two sisters, Helen Christiansen and Ann Weakley; and one brother, Ray Huotari.