Obituary of Richard S. Seppala

Richard S. Seppala, 88, Esko, died Sunday, July 27, 2003 in Cloquet Community Memorial Nursing Home. He was born September 12, 1914 in Thomson Township to Sakari and Anna Seppala. He grew up on the family farm and attended Esko schools. He married Lily Violet Johnson in June 1936 and they lived in the current farm home. As a young child and adult he worked on the family farm and business selling and delivering milk, cream, butter and eggs to their customers in the Esko and Duluth area. During the war, he purchased his first dozer and cleared land for the farmers in the area and thus began his excavating business. He worked very hard throughout his life, retiring from his excavating business at the age of 79. He was a very proud Ford owner and also was very proud of his Finnish heritage. Through the years he enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing, ice-fishing, and snowmobiling with his family and friends. He always had a good sense of humor. He married Eleanor Ruth Anderson on March 2, 1966 in Duluth, MN. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Lily, on December 18, 1959; his parents; four brothers, Charles, John, Henry, and Art and three sisters, Hilda Seppala, Selma Juuti and Mamie Olson. Richard is survived by his wife of 37 years, Eleanor of Esko; his daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and James E. Lindquist, Cloquet; his brother, Edward, of Cloquet; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many friends. Richard was dearly loved by his family and friends and will surely be missed by all who knew him. Visitation will be Thursday, July 31, 2003 from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet followed by a luncheon in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Interment service will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Oneota Cemetery, Duluth. If preferred, memorials may be made to Friends of Animals, Cloquet, or to the donor's choice. To sign the guestbook or leave an online tribute, see northlandfuneralhome.com.