Valeria Helen Peka, age 85, of Holdingford, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Val was born in Minneapolis to Andrew & Mary (Kwitchak) Horvath. Val was the fifth child born, she was both loved and adored by her siblings. Val graduated from Holdingford High School in 1948. She married Leo Peka and together they had 7 children. Val and Leo moved around before making their home in Bowlus. She worked at Franklin Manufacturing, Crestliner Boats in Little Falls and Maico Hearing Aids in Minneapolis. Val retired at 64 and always said her retirement years were the best years of her life.
Val was the center of her large family. She was happiest when she was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She absolutely adored her little dog, Whiplash. He was her very favorite! She loved to travel, to cook, her scratch off lottery tickets, her garden and her beautiful flowers. She was an “adopted” Mother to many. Her home was always open to anyone that came to visit. She was known for her Spring/Fall Cleaning and especially for her “Twang” music.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Nancy (Alan) Dancer, Karen Herbes, Lora (Jim) Bartkowicz, Paula (Tim) Theisen and Dan Peka; nineteen Grandchildren; forty-two Great Grandchildren; two Great-Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her children Timothy (TP) and Mary Helen. Her brothers: Clarence, Andrew and James. Her sister, Mary Ann.
Funeral service for Val will be on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 11AM at Miller Carlin Funeral Home in Holdingford. Visitation will be on Friday, December 2, 2016 from 5-7PM at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service, Saturday, at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Cemetery, near Holdingford.
Caring for Val & the Peka Family:
Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home
Brainerd, MN 218-829-3581
www.halvorson-johnson.com