Obituary: Cheryl Rae Juutilainen

Cheryl Rae Juutilainen was born on Aug. 25, 1952, to Charles and Marion (LaVigne) McArthur in Duluth. She grew up close to all of her family in Carlton.

Cheryl graduated from Carlton High School in 1970. Following graduation, she was united in marriage to Joe Juutilainen on June 19, 1971, at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Carlton. Together they made their home in Cloquet and later moved back to Carlton. To this union they were blessed with two children, Ryan and Krista.

Cheryl worked as a waitress at Nettie's Café and Family Tradition Restaurant. She later worked as a certified nursing assistant for 28 years at Carlton Nursing Home (Inter-Faith Care Center) until retiring in 2014. Cheryl loved crafts; there was very little she could not make. She also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and helping others. Cheryl especially loved her family and friends; they meant the most to her. She will be missed for her loving and caring personality and for her good sense of humor.

Cheryl passed away April 26, 2023, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth at the age of 70.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 51 years, Joe Juutilainen, of Carlton; children, Ryan (Dai) Juutilainen of Marshall, and Krista (Carl Folsom) Heller of Carlton; grandchildren, Rhyana (Preston Reiger) Juutilainen, Holly Juutilainen, Noah Heller, Kaylee Juutilainen, Tracy Juutilainen and Evelyn Juutilainen; aunts, Shirley Eliason and Carolyn LaVigne; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of life for Cheryl will be held 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday, May 5 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Private family inurnment will be at Sandy Lake Cemetery in Carlton at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Nelson Funeral Care of Cloquet.

Pine Knot News, April 28, 2023