A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Alice Purtilo, 84, passed away peacefully at her home January 8, 2025, with her family present. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota, graduated from Alborn High School and started her great adventure when she married her husband Duane in 1959. The newlyweds moved to St. Paul, and began their joint venture at the University of Minnesota. While her husband studied Veterinary Medicine, Alice was the wind in his sails. During a 67 year marriage, they were an unbeatable team as Duane practiced Veterinary Medicine and Alice was the clinic manager, while also owning and managing her own travel agency in Delano.
In her free time, Alice traveled, camped, sewed, gardened, won countless ribbons for her baked goods at the Meeker and Wright County Fair, read the newspaper daily, and kept a lovely home. Family was the center of her life and she was a warm presence in the lives of her husband, children, brothers, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and her final reward, her great grandchildren.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Irene Hillstrom, mother-in-law Sadie Purtilo, and her brother and sister in laws David Purtilo and Diane Fremling. She will be greatly missed by her husband Duane Purtilo, her children Diane Cole (Patrick), Graden Purtilo (Rose), grandchildren Tyler Purtilo (Krystal), Allison Cole, William Cole and great grandchildren Easton and Tate Purtilo, her brothers Alvin Hillstrom, Marvin Hillstrom (Verna) and Daniel Hillstrom, and her beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, Minnesota. swansonpeterson.com 320 543 3401. Luncheon will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake, Minnesota.
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