Obituary
Katherine Marie Perala, 79
Katherine Marie Perala, 79, of Ash Lake, Minn., died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, of natural causes in her home.
She was born May 7, 1935, in Grand Marais, Minn., to Frank and Cecelia (Murphy) Anderson.
Her maternal grandparents were early residents of Grand Marais; her grandfather owning a general store whose building currently houses the Beaver House bait shop.
As a young girl, Katherine lived in a number of small towns in northern Minnesota, including Tofte, Isabella and Cook, as her father, a ranger with the United States Forest Service, worked at various stations and Civilian Conservation Corps camps.
She graduated from Cloquet High School in 1953 and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1957 with a degree in education.
Following her graduation, she taught at elementary schools in Portland, Ore., and Roseville, Minn.
Katherine married Kenneth Perala, of Orr, Minn., on Dec. 27, 1958, at the Presbyterian Church in Cloquet. The couple moved to International Falls in 1962.
She was a substitute teacher in the Falls and Littlefork before teaching fifth grade and kindergarten at St. Thomas Catholic School in International Falls from 1974 until her retirement in 1997.
Katherine was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and teacher, who touched the lives of many.
She enjoyed baking, gardening, playing cards, reading, traveling, including favorite trips to Alaska, Japan and Australia, sewing, and in later years, weaving.
She enjoyed the beauty of nature, especially northern Minnesota and loved looking out at the water from her home on Ash Lake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Frank Jr.; and brother-in-law, James Howard.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Kenneth; daughters, Suzanne Perala of Long Beach, Calif., and Mary (Terry Bounds) Perala of International Falls; son, Jon (Mie) Perala of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; grandson, Joseph Jon; aunt, Lillian Anderson of Coon Rapids, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Carol Anderson of Alpena, Mich., Joanne Larson (Ronald) of Woodbury, Minn., Beverly Howard of Virginia, Minn., and Ida Perala of Boston, Mass.; 12 nieces and nephews; numerous grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins, extended family and dear friends.
A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at St. Thomas Church. International Falls.
Cremation services were provided by the Cremation Society of Minnesota.
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1935 - 2014 (79 years)
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