Red Lake Falls - Erma Skala, 84, died Wednesday, September 27, 2000 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday, September 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls with Rev. Tim Bushy officiating. Special music was provided by St. Joseph's Church Choir. Casketbearers were Mark Perreault, Kenny Perreault, Jon Perreault, Kris Perreault, Steve Schiefert and Darrell Payment. Interment was in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery at Terrebonne with Johnson Funeral Service of Red Lake Falls in charge of the arrangements.
Erma Helen LaPlante was born on July 31, 1916 near Red Lake Falls, the daughter of Walter and Minnie (Scharmer) LaPlante. She was raised near Red Lake Falls and attended rural school.
On June 16, 1939, she was united in marriage to Harvey Perreault at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Terrebonne. The couple farmed near Terrebonne until Harvey's death on October 18, 1954. Emma worked at Kalinoski's chicken house, Marcoux Corner, Leo St. Michel's Locker Plant and Ryan's Jack and Jill grocery store.
On October 10, 1969, she married Henry Skala, and the couple had made their home on the Skala farm near Red Lake Falls for the past 30 years.
Emma was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, folding church bulletins and serving as an aid at St. Joseph's school for many years. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary and Hillcrest Nursing Home Auxiliary.
She enjoyed feeding and watching birds, gardening, flowers and cooking.
Emma is survived by her husband, Henry Skala of Red Lake Falls; three sons, Donald (fiancee Judi Staff) Perreault of Crookston, Jim (Lorraine) Perreault of Lakeville and Tome (Charlene) Perreault of Georgetown, Texas; two daughters, Marlys (Jerry) Schiefert of Hopkins and Diane (Steve) Schall of Eden Prairie; stepchildren, Joseph Skala, Gene (Judy) Skala, Karen (Mike) Knott and Kathleen Skala, all of Red Lake Falls; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Etta (Xavier) Payment of Red Lake Falls; a brother, Edward (Martha) LaPlante of New Hope; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband; three brothers, Leonard, Ernest and George LaPlante; and a sister, Marie Gervais. A00003B2000OC04