Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Alvina Marie Kotila age 81, of Litchfield, MN passed away on March 2, 2020, at the St. Cloud Hospital. She was born January 15, 1939, in Litchfield, MN at home. Alvina was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Litchfield, MN. She grew up on a farm near Litchfield and Grove City, and attended country school District 38 Grove City, and Grove City High School. She married Donald Kotila, Sr. on March 22, 1958, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Litchfield.
Alvina was a long-time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN (since 1969) where she taught Sunday school for 16 years. Alvina also served as a Cub scout den leader for 6 years. Alvina retired in 2004 after working for 25 years at Wright County Social Services.
Alvina lived in the Cokato area from 1960 until moving to Meeker Manor in Litchfield in 2015. Her favorite pastimes were gardening, bowling, camping, fishing, making quilts, cooking, baking, and collecting cookbooks and recipes. Alvina loved to color and created a number of beautiful craft projects. She was also a puzzle solver and loved to play Scrabble and cribbage.
Alvina is survived by brother Richard (Kathy) Reinke; sister-in-law Minda Reinke, both from Darwin. She is also survived by sons Donald Jr. (Colleen) Kotila, Litchfield; Doug (Carmen) Kotila, Dassel; Dwane (Lisa) Kotila, Dassel; Dwight (Toni McHale) Kotila, Hugo; 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her friends at Meeker Manor.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Kotila Sr., parents Alfred and Wilma Reinke, brother Alvin Reinke, and great grandson Ashtan Suess.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 7, 2020 with visitation 1 hour prior to service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-543-3401