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Published November 27, 2012, 12:00 AM

Edna Murto

Edna Murto, 85, of Esko, Minn., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. She was born Sept. 7, 1927, in Mahtowa, Minn., to Matt and Gustava Pesonen. She graduated from Barnum High School in 1945. Edna married Rudy Murto in October 1948. Edna worked at Diamond Match for 43½ years, retiring in 1992. While there, she was active in the Matchmaker’s Local 970, serving as either president or secretary for more than 30 years. She was also active in the Central Labor Body for more than 40 years and served as its secretary for most of that time. Edna was active in the Carlton County Labor Day Celebration for more than 40 years.

Edna Murto, 85, of Esko, Minn., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. She was born Sept. 7, 1927, in Mahtowa, Minn., to Matt and Gustava Pesonen. She graduated from Barnum High School in 1945. Edna married Rudy Murto in October 1948. Edna worked at Diamond Match for 43½ years, retiring in 1992. While there, she was active in the Matchmaker’s Local 970, serving as either president or secretary for more than 30 years. She was also active in the Central Labor Body for more than 40 years and served as its secretary for most of that time. Edna was active in the Carlton County Labor Day Celebration for more than 40 years.

Edna was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was an active board member with Friends of Animals for many years. She was the 2012 recipient of the Big Dog Award from the Beastie Bash for her outstanding commitment and service to Friends of Animals.

Edna was active in training and showing German Shepherds since 1970. She had as many as 10 American and Canadian Champion German Shepherds. She was a member of the Minneapolis Kennel Club and the Twin Ports Kennel Club. For many years she taught obedience classes through Community Education. She was a 4-H leader with the County Dog Project and was a judge at the Carlton County Fair Dog Show. Edna also volunteered at Sunnyside Health Care Center with her canine companion and therapy dog, Manny.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy, in 1984 and brothers, Leonard Pesonen in 1955 and Harold “Bill” Pesonen in 2007.

She is survived by her nephews, John (Janet) Pesonen of Cloquet, Minn., William (Patty) Murto of Esko, and Charles (Cindy) Murto of Phoenix, Ariz.; nieces, Mary Anne (David) Lee of Esko, Alice (Allen) Johnson of Philadelphia, and Lori Pesonen of Cloquet; sister-in-law, Marge Pesonen of Cloquet; her partner in crime, Danny (Janel) Swanson of Barnum; and many other cherished friends.

Visitation was held Monday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. A time of lunch and fellowship followed in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Burial was in Mount Salem Cemetery in Mahtowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Friends of Animals.

To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.

November 29, 2012 ~ Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.

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Mark E.
Fergus Falls, MN     11/27/2012 12:39 PM

Dear Mary, I was sad to learn of the death of your Aunt Edna. She sounded like a neat person. I did not realize that we had such an avid dog enthusiast in our Esko midst. I wish now that I had taken dog obedience classes from her with our schnauzer. I was online looking for my uncle Willard Juntunen's obituary and thought I'd let you know that I had read Edna's and am sad for your family's loss as well as ours. I was able to get to St. Matthew's for Betsy Towne's funeral and could not believe the wonderful changes with the addition, windows & lights. Kim Eckhardt (formerly Juntunen)

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