Lucille Witikko, age 92, of New York Mills, passed away on January 22, 2025, at her home. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. with prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York Mills. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Ryan Stout officiating. Congregational hymns will be accompanied by Janell Brakel Visitation will resume one hour prior to services at church. Lucille will be laid to rest at Eksjo Lutheran Cemetery, Lake Park, Minn. at a later date.

Lucille Ingrid (Swenson) Witikko was born on December 21, 1932, on the family farm in Clay County, Eglon Township near Hawley, Minn.—the second child of Carl and Myrtle Swenson. She was baptized on January 8, 1933, at Eksjo Lutheran Church, Lake Park, Minnesota. She was 2 ½ weeks old. Besides her parents she was blessed with 4 siblings: Lundell born May 1931, Kathryn and Walton Norman, twins, born June 1935, and Myrtle Ann, born May 1937. Kathryn and Walton were premature, and Walton only lived 2 days and is buried at Eksjo cemetery. Solem District 15 country school was the elementary school about 1 mile south of the farm that the children attended. Lucille started school there when she was 5 years old. In 1946 she was confirmed at Eksjo church. She went to high school at the U of M Northwest School of Agriculture in Rural Crookston, Minn., graduating in 1950. She continued her education at St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing, Fargo, N.D. This included classes at Concordia College and NDSU along with 6 months at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Ill. before graduating in 1955.

After taking N.D. nursing state boards, she became a Registered Nurse. She worked at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., from 1955 to 1961. Due to her mother’s illness, she moved home to help care for her. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, Minn. from 1961-1968. She also worked for Gloria Dei Parish which included 3 rural churches. In 1968 she worked at the V.A. Hospital in Minneapolis. While there, Lutheran World Relief hired her to be a Medical Relief Worker in Nigeria, West Africa during the Civil War between Nigeria and Biafra. This was LWR, International Red Cross and Christian Council of Nigeria. 1970-1985 she relocated to Littlefork, Minnesota where she worked in the Littlefork Municipal Hospital and Nursing Home as an R.N. and Director of Nursing.

On July 12, 1980, Lucille was united in marriage with David Witikko at Eksjo Lutheran Church, Lake Park, Minn. They made their home in Littlefork, Minn. On that day she gained a husband and a 6-year-old stepdaughter, Alia. The family moved to Monticello, Minn., in 1985 where Dave continued to work as a Registered Pharmacist. Lucille worked part-time helping the school nurse, staff nurse at a nursing home, bookkeeper in a pharmacy, and a staff member of a garden store. They relocated to New York Mills, Minnesota at the end of 1999 and into the New Year 2000. Dave continued as a Pharmacist and Lucille essentially retired. They have 40 acres of woods and grassland and wildlife. They enjoyed the outdoors and all of its activities as well as their church membership at St. Peter’s Lutheran in New York Mills. She was active in church groups, and she cherished the friendships and relationships she developed with her church family as well as her community and neighborhood. Her love of life and her kind personality will long be remembered by people whose lives she touched.

Preceding Lucille in death are her parents: Carl and Myrtle (Lundell) Swenson; brothers: Lundell and Walton; and brother-in law: Ed Arne.

Lucille is survived by her loving husband: David; stepdaughter: Alia (Lars) Ossmo; grandson: Magnus; sisters: Myrtle (Ed) Thom; and Kathryn Arne; many beloved nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

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

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