Alice “Toots” Erkenbrack, age 98, of New York Mills, passed away on February 4, 2024, at Mills Manor in New York Mills. Funeral Services were held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Karvonen Funeral Home in New York Mills with Pastor Kathy Hodges officiating. Toots was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in New York Mills.

Alice “Toots” Erkenbrack was born on August 1, 1925, in New York Mills, Minnesota. Her parents were the late Lawrence and Dorothy (Johnson) Cooley. Toots attended country school in Heinola and New York Mills High School.

On April 10, 1948, Toots was united in marriage with Audrian “Erky” Erkenbrack in Alexandria, Minn. Together they made their home in Parkers Prairie where Toots worked as a waitress. While Erky served in the United States Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954 Toots stayed with her sister, Irene, in Long Lake, S.D.

Toots and Erky made their home in Lynwood, California where Toots worked as a waitress and housekeeper at a local motel. They moved to Idaho Falls until Erky’s retirement and then made their home in Alpine, Wyo. In their spare time Toots and Erky enjoyed snowmobiling, elk hunting and moose hunting. Toots also enjoyed cooking for people and loved thrift shops. In 2000 Toots and Erky returned to Minnesota, making their home in rural Wadena and most recently New York Mills.

Toots enjoyed fishing and gardening. She loved playing cards, bingo and word search games.

Preceding Toots in death are her husband, Audrian “Erky” Erkenbrack; parents, Lawrence and Dorothy Cooley; siblings: Lawrence, Delphine, Loraine, Irene, Geraldine, Evelyn, Leslie, Edgar, Carolyn, and Linda.

Toots is survived by her siblings: Margaret “Peggy” (Don) Bjelland; John (Karin) Cooley; and Sharry (Gordie) Wallace; many close relatives and a host of friends.

Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to leave memorials and condolences on Toots’ Tribute Wall.

Arrangements provided by Karvonen Funeral & Cremation Service of New York Mills.