June Eleanor Harju, age 92, passed away peacefully at Cokato Manor on July
10, 2026.
June was born on September 20, 1933, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to Arvo and Aune Lehtinen.
She grew up in Fitchburg and graduated from high school there.
June met her soulmate, Neal Harju, while he was stationed in
Massachusetts with the U.S. Army. They were united in marriage on
March 20, 1954, by Reverend Reino Kallio in Fitchburg. They then
lived in Germany for a short time while Neal continued his military
service.
After returning to the United States, Neal and June made their home
in Cokato, where they raised their three children. June worked at
Green Giant during the corn pack seasons, in the kitchen at Cokato
Elementary School, and later as a TMA at both Dassel Lakeside and
Cokato Manor nursing homes.
June was a lifelong member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. Her faith was the foundation of her life, and she cherished time spent with her family and her dear Christian friends.
She is survived by her daughters, Joanne (Gary) Chamberlain of Cokato, Linda Samuelson of Cokato, and Maria Harju of Howard Lake; grandchildren Tara (Timm) Hagen, Sheila Chamberlain, Erin (Kevin) Parenteau, Jessi (Mike) Hauan, Kelsey (Carsten) Proehl, Derrek (Amanda) Harju, and Jaden Samuelson; great-grandchildren Akadia, Austin, Alana, Noah, Jolynn, Brooke, Trenton, Micah, Eliana, Nathanael, Ryker, Rhett, Rexton, and great-great granddaughter, Parker; her sister, Diane Kangas of Grafton, Massachusetts; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and many other dear extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Neal; her parents, Arvo Lehtinen and Aune Kangas; her beloved grandmother, Lena Ritari; her grandson, Brandon Chamberlain; her great-granddaughter, Aubrey Parenteau; and many other dear extended family members and friends.
Funeral services for June will take place on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 11:00am with a visitation 1 hour prior to the service, at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Dassel, Minnesota.