Valerie Elaine Luedke

Valerie Elaine Luedke (Haataja), age 58, of Menahga, MN, died peacefully March 13, 2020 surrounded by family. Valerie was born to Wendell and Elaine Haataja on October 7, 1961 in Chisholm, MN. Valerie grew up and graduated from Martin Hughes High School in Buhl, MN. She continued her education at Hibbing Community College with an accounting degree. Early on in life she worked at Hillcrest nursing home and United Healthcare in Hibbing, MN. In 1991, she moved to Menahga and started working for Dakota Clinic/Innovis Health. Through mutual family and friends she met Steve, and they were married August 21, 1993 and made their home in rural Menahga. For the past several years she worked with insurance billing and coding from home for Essentia Health. Working from home allowed her to pursue her passion of raising golden retriever puppies and finding their forever homes. Valerie enjoyed deer hunting and fishing for walleye, and especially loved spending time at Big Pine Lake with family and friends. She loved her 8 grandsons, whom she lovingly joked the boys almost made her a football team. Valerie was always welcoming neighbors, friends, and all her children’s friends for conversation, laughs and beverages on the weekend. Valerie is survived by her husband Steve for 27 years; children Kayla (Ben) Peterson, Justin (Shaina) Luedke, Kaisa (Isaac) Lustila, and Jenny Dannheim; grandchildren Marcus, Ryan, Aaron, Darren, Ethan, Alex, Kyle, and Tyler plus 2 grandbabies on the way; mother Elaine Haataja; sisters Roxanne (Lynn) Johnson, Tammy (Tim Shore) Schantzen, and Lisa (Kenny) Kako; brother Todd (Elaine) Haataja; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and other relatives. She is preceded in death by her father, Wendell Haataja and grandparents Eino and Lillian Simi, and Carl and Hilda Haataja. A private memorial service with immediate family only will be held at 1:00pm with a limited visitation beginning at 11:00am, Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka, MN with Pastor Steven A. Bruer officiating. A celebration of life will be held at a later date with extended family and friends.