Cleone Perala

Cleone Gloria Perala, 93, passed away on March 27, 2019 in Duluth, MN.  Cleone was born on August 13, 1925 in Bear River, MN to Andrew and Agnes (Fosso) Johnsrud. Cleone married Toivo Perala in 1949, they moved to Shoreline, WA where they lived until returning to Minnesota in 2008. Cleone was a founding member of the Shoreline Unitarian Church of Shoreline, WA.  She served on the Board and many other positions, the church provided her with many friends and good memories. Cleone loved music and had a beautiful soprano voice. She was a registered LPN receiving her training at the Franklin Hospital School in Minneapolis.  Cleone worked part-time as a private duty nurse after her children were older.  She loved her family and friends and will be missed by many. She is survived by her husband Toivo of Duluth, and daughter Debra (Marty Lemon) Perala of Anchorage, AK; nieces and nephews, Jane Engdahl, Judy (Engdahl) Kehoe, Dale (Elayne) Engdahl, Joe Braun, and Kerry Rosenholm; brothers-in-law, Ken Rosenholm, Mark Judd, and Donald (Onyda) Perala.  She was predeceased by her sons, Bruce and Mark; her Johnsrud siblings, Selma (Braun), Wallace, Hazel (Sura), Joe, Bella (Basie), Alvin, Mabel (Engdahl), Ernest, and Melvin; sisters-in-law, Alice Rosenholm and Viola Judd.

The family would like to thank Beehive Homes of Duluth, Edgewood Vista, and Essentia Hospice employees for their compassionate care in the last years of her life. A private memorial service will be held at a future date. It was Cleone’s wish to have her ashes scattered on Mt. Rainier.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, 218-727-3555.