Cynthia Gayle Keranen

Cynthia Gayle Keranen, age 72, of Wolf Lake Minnesota, died surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota following years of chronic health problems. Cindy was born on April 23, 1951 in St. Paul Minnesota, to Walter and Sylvia Muhonen. Cindy fondly spoke of growing up in White Bear Lake, MN along side her beloved siblings and many cousins. These happy years were spent sledding, riding bikes, playing paper dolls, outside play and sleepovers. One of her favorite memories was going to the family cabin on the lake, to which they hauled the lawnmower back and forth, but also picked weeds in the lake, spent time blueberry picking, and enjoyed countless hours swimming. She graduated in 1969 from White Bear Lake High School. Cindy married Arnold Keranen on May 22, 1971 and together they raised 13 children and farmed for 30 years in Osage, Minnesota. Cindy fostered a home of love and comfort and warmly welcomed any amount of friends, family, hunters, salespeople, young and old alike. If things got to be too much, she’d just call sister Nancy. A true caregiver at heart, Cindy completed RN school in 1993 and began working at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home for a few years until starting at St. Joseph hospital in 1995 where she worked until she retired in 2016. She was happiest when spending time with her family, gardening, cooking, baking, reading, antiques and singing jingles to her kids. When her health kept her at home she spent many hours doing embroidery work. Cindy had a special love for her grandkids. Most days after work, she would stop at the thrift store and buy her grandkids what seemed like all the toys, coloring books, stickers, and puzzles. Her purse was filled with gum and candy for the kids every Sunday and they knew it. In most recent years, she traveled mostly just to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren who live out of state. Cindy is survived by her husband Arnold, children Tracie (Kirk) Simonson of Whitefish, MT, Janell (Eric) Wuollet of New Haven, UT, David (Marcy) Keranen of Menahga, MN, Bruce (Rita) Keranen of Silt, CO, Andrew (Laureena) Keranen Wolf Lake,MN, Katie (Jerry) Laulainen of Wolf Lake, MN, Linda (Tom) Wisuri of Menahga, MN, Darla (Derek) Grangroth of Silt, CO, Andrea (Justin) Grangroth of Silt, CO, Rebecca (Davin) Grangroth of Williston, ND, Jennifer (Douglas) Laho of Silt, CO, Darren (Sonya) Keranen of Osage, MN, Vanessa (Edward) Wikman of Menahga, MN, 131 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren. Cindy is preceded in death by her parents Walter and Sylvia Muhonen, brother Dennis Muhonen, in-laws Henry and Hilda Keranen Roland Keranen, Elmer Keranen, EdnaMae Felak, Arlene Arvola, Louis Lazur, Art Havernen, Steve Felak, Bill Rath, grandchildren Eden Keranen, Eden Laulainen, and Davis Grangroth. Visitation will be from 5-8 PM on Friday, February 16, 2024, at the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga, with Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga. Interment will be at Balmi Cemetery in rural Wolf Lake.