An open house was held for Cory Keskitalo, age 36, of Henning, on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Karvonen Funeral Home in New York Mills. Cory was laid to rest in Topelius Cemetery, rural New York Mills.

Cory Andrew Keskitalo was born on March 29, 1988, in Perham. His parents are Randy and Carol (Ollie) Keskitalo. He attended New York Mills High School and graduated with the Class of 2006.

After High School Cory gain an interest in Masonry work, with the help of Dale Roers. He entered a State Competition in Minneapolis, Minn., and won first place, which entered him into a National Competition in Kansas City, Mo., where he won third in the Nation.

He started his own Masonry Business, Northern Relentless Creations. He was employed in the oil fields in North Dakota for a while and also, Morton Buildings putting up pole sheds and Andy Pettow Construction.

He married Jill Salo, they had two children: Braysen and Aevyn. They later divorced.

He resided in Underwood, and most recently in Henning, with his fiancé, Brianna Paulson and children: Royce, Gage and Emma. He loved spending time with his family and kids; hunting, fishing, spending time at the hunting cabin, tapping maple trees and making maple syrup. He also enjoyed tending to his apple orchard; planting, pruning and grafting trees, gardening and woodworking. He loved to go power paragliding! He had recently been training in his nephew, Cohan Christianson to work in his masonry business.

On July 21, 2024, Cory passed away at 36 years of age. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Preceding Cory in death were his grandparents: Melvin, Mildred and Alice Ollie; Emil and Sylvia Keskitalo; aunts: JoAnn Cichy, Carol Christianson and Judy Paju; uncles: Steve Keskitalo and Paul Keskitalo.

Cory is survived by his loving parents: Randy and Carol Keskitalo of New York Mills; brother, Chris Keskitalo of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; nieces and nephews: Makiah, Cohen, Mila and Otto; sister-in-law, Stefanie; fiancé, Brianna; children: Braysen, Aevyn, Royce, Gage and Emma; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to send Cory’s family a message of comfort and support.

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