Laraine K. Forsell, 80
St. Joseph
Sept. 3, 1941 – Nov. 25, 2021
Laraine K. Forsell, 80, loving wife and mother of five children, died Nov. 25 at St. Cloud Hospital after a brave battle with cancer.
Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 at Hope Covenant Church, 336 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. There will be a private ceremony for the family immediately following the visitation. The Rev. Brian Zahasky will officiate and burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud.
Forsell was born Sept. 3, 1941, in Biwabik, Minnesota to Jack and Lila (Lehtinen) Hietala. She graduated from Biwabik High School, Class of 1959. Forsell spent most of her working career as an executive assistant at Dezurik. She also worked part time as secretary at Hope Covenant Church for Pastor Rick Mylander. Forsell had four children Laurie, Linda, LeAnn and James from her first marriage. On Dec. 7th, 1978 she married John Forsell, they had one son, Jeremy Forsell. Forsell had a tremendous passion for her family and Finnish heritage. She was strong in her faith, loved listening to hymns in the kitchen, enjoyed quilting, reading and playing piano. She and her husband John loved taking rides in their Model T and wintering at their second home in Gold Canyon, Arizona where they had great memories playing cards with friends and singing in the church choir. Forsell was a genuine inspiration to those who knew and loved her. Her sharp-witted humor could make anyone laugh. She lived courageously, taught everyone how to fight with grace, and most importantly how to love.
Survivors include the following: sisters, Patty Norrell, Jeannie Viburg and Evelyn Tuomala; husband John; five children: Laurie Blackmore, Linda Blackmore, LeAnn (Kelvin) Howieson, James (Brenda) Blackmore and Jeremy (Erin) Forsell; stepson, Jon (Cindy) Forsell; stepdaughter, Jackie Forsell; six grandchildren: Allison Blackmore, Aaron (Nicole) Blackmore, Matthew Blackmore, Joseph (Ashtin) Blackmore, Mitchell (Kylee) Howieson, Joshua Howieson, Michaela Forsell and Zach Forsell, and four great-grandchildren, Morgan, Thomas, Logan, and Lennon Laraine.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jack; her mother, Lila; and her brother Jack Hietala.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the CentraCare-Coborn Cancer Center in St. Cloud.
Obituary, guestbook and video tribute will be available online at www.williamsdingmann.com.
