Venla Irene Lappi Karinen died Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Venla was born on her parents’ farm in Cokato on Nov. 3, 1923, the fifth of six children. Venla graduated from Cokato High School, 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 she moved to Annandale, where she volunteered for Annandale schools. In 2014, Venla moved to Carlsbad, California to live with her son Allen and daughter-in-law Darlene. Venla was preceded in death by her husband Early, son Bradley, two brothers and their wives Reino (Bernette) Lappi, Weino (Bernadette) Lappi, 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), grandson Roland, Peter’s mother Mary and many nieces/great nieces and nephews/great nephews. Venla will be buried next to her husband in the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. A service is planned for Monday, July 10 at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato and Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534.