Gloria May Puotinen

Gloria May Puotinen, 73, of Esko died Friday, February 21, 2003 in her home after a lengthy illness. She was born May 9, 1929 in Cloquet, the daughter of Hjalmar and Kathrine (Olson) Nicholson. Gloria was a 1947 graduate of Cloquet High School. She married Donald Puotinen on October 8, 1949 in Cloquet. Gloria worked as a secretary, first, for a publishing house in Minneapolis, at the Cloquet Medical Center and then for 16 years as the secretary for St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Esko. Gloria was a very active and faithful member of St. Mathews Lutheran Church and had previously been active in Scouting and the P.T.A. She was preceded in death by a son, Lawrence in 1961. Gloria is survived by her husband of 53 years, Donald, of Esko; two sons, Ron (Cindy) Puotinen of Jacksonville, FL and Dale (Ronda) Puotinen of Boyceville, WI; a cherished grandson, Joshua Dale; a sister, Marge Anderson of Superior; two nieces, Marilyn (Gary) Gundry and Kay (Jim) Leersson; one nephew, Donald (Esther) Anderson; a sister-in-law, Joyce Farrell of Napa, CA and many friends. Because of the allergies Gloria had to live plants or fresh flowers, artificial arrangements or memorials are preferred. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 in St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Esko. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.