Middle River - Wesley E. Waltonen, 82, died Tuesday, December 1, 1998 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 5 at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Pastor John Jorgensen officiating. Linda Sparby was the organist. Vocal music was provided by Bernard McKigney and Rosemarie Johnk.
Honorary casketbearers were Melvin Griffin, Arne Tuura, Ervin Peterson, Glendon McKeever, Arvid Matero and Jack Nelson. Casketbearers were F. William Halme, Kevin Halme, Charles Walton, Brian Walton, Brent Walton and Wallace Walton. Interment was in the Finnish Cemetery in Middle River. The Collins Funeral Home of Middle River was in charge of the arrangements.
Wesley Earl Waltonen, the son of Charles and Amanda (Ojala) Waltonen, was born on November 22, 1916 in Cedar township of Marshall county near Middle River. He attended District 64 "Honor Bright" school near his home and was baptized and confirmed at the Finnish Lutheran Church.
On October 29, 1938 Wesley was united in marriage to Lillian Halme at their farm in Spruce Valley township. The couple operated a dairy, beef and grain farm.
He loved farming and animals, especially horses. From the 1950s until 1996, Wesley and Lillian never missed a basketball game. He was a long-time member of First Lutheran Church of Middle River and the Thief River Falls Eagles. He was active in the Middle River Community Club and a variety of other community affairs over the years. He was also a director of the Farmers' Co-op Elevator.
Wesley is survived by his wife, Lillian; one daughter, Lorrie (Randy) Rose of Middle River; one grandson; one brother, Henry (Lavonne) of Thief River Falls; three sisters, Taina Hicks of Fort Belvoir, VA, Saima Halme of Thief River Falls and Ruth Affolter of Bellevue, WA; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Waino and John.