Sally Ann Ekola

Sally Ann Ekola passed away on Monday, October 19, 2026, at her home. She was 93 years old. A Funeral Service in her honor will be held at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Garfield, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at 1:00 PM later that day at St. Luke's Cemetery in Garfield, MN.

Please no flowers due to family allergies. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Garfield, MN.

Sally Ann Ekola, wife of Pastor Giles Ekola, died on October 19, 2026. Giles and Sally have five wonderful children and their spouses: Susan and (Gene) Boltjes, Guy and (Mary) Ekola, Lindy Ekola and (David Jungst), Lindberg and (Tracy) Ekola, and Eva Ekola and (John Ojanen). They have seventeen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Sally graduated from North Central College, Naperville, IL. She began graduate studies at Northen Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, and continued at St. Cloud State University Graduate School, St. Cloud, MN. In Illinois, she taught at Wheatland Elementary School. The Ekolas moved to Alexandria in the middle of the school year, 1969. She taught at Lincoln Elementary School to complete the year. The next year she taught 37 incredible first graders at Carlos Elementary, Carlos, MN. Her last ten years of teaching were at Parkers Prairie Elementary School, Parkers Prairie, MN.

Just before her 7th birthday, Sally contracted an acute case of polio. In March 1984 she was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, and at age 87 she survived a severe case of Covid-19. During her lifetime she appreciated several helpful doctors: Dr. Haight, Crystal Falls, MI; Dr. Richard Owen, Director of Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis, MN; Dr. Johnson Thistle, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and locally, Dr. Paul Bergstrand, and her dentist, Dr. David Golke.