Venla Irene Lappi Karinen died Friday, March 21, 2023. Venla was born on her parents’ farm in Cokato, Minnesota on Nov. 3, 1923, the fifth of six children. She graduated from Cokato High School then Minneapolis Business College and had a successful career as a secretary in the city. In 1946 she married Earl Karinen and they had two sons: Bradley and Allen. Earl and Venla resided in Minneapolis until 1973 when they moved to Lake Sylvia. After Earl’s death, Venla moved to Annandale, where she volunteered for multiple schools. In 2014, she moved to Carlsbad, California to live with her son Allen and daughter-in-law Darlene. Venla enjoyed playing cards, knitting afghans, cooking, going out on the lake, and spending time with family and friends. Venla was preceded in death by her husband Earl, son Bradley, two brothers and their wives Reino (Bernette) Lappi, Weino (Bernadette) Lappi, and three sisters and their husbands Helmi (Stanley Rustad), Melba (George Sihvonen) and Lois (Clark Shattuck). Venla is survived by her son Allen (Darlene), grandson Peter (Kasey), great-grandson Roland, Peter’s mother Mary and many nieces, great nieces and nephews, and great nephews. Venla will be buried next to her husband in the Cokato Finnish Cemetery; a service is tentatively planned for July 10.