Vida Jokela

Vida Joyce Ardell (Smith) Jokela was born on October 20, 1939 in Leaf Lake Township, rural Deer Creek, Minnesota to William and Signe (Asmund) Smith. Vida attended country school at District #134 N, then New York Mills High School, graduating with the class of 1957.

On May 16, 1959 Vida was united in marriage to James Milton Umlauf. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Tyrone, Shelley, Rita and Michelle. Vida and James were married for seventeen years, residing in Fergus Falls.

In 1980, Vida met Jim Jokela, the love of her life. They were united in marriage on July 5, 1986 and made their home in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Vida enjoyed traveling, antiquing, reading, gardening, puzzles, playing spades and spending time with family and friends.

On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, Vida passed away at Lakewood Care Center, Staples, MN, at 79 years of age. She will be dearly missed by all her family and friends. Preceding Vida in death were her parents, William and Signe Smith; her husband: Jim Jokela; brothers: Mervill Smith and Eugene Smith.

Vida is survived by her children: Tyrone (Lynne) Umlauf; Shelley Umlauf-Stange; Rita (David) Linder; and Michelle (Mark) Andrews; Grandchildren: Michael (Paige) Umlauf, Justin Odden, Jaime (Tony) Nagel, Nicholas Stange, Isaac Stange, Isaiah Stange; Emmett Umlauf, Taisha Linder; and Brock Andrews; Great-grandchildren: Joshua Odden, Nathan Odden, RaeLynn Umlauf and Lincoln Nagel; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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