Erlene Marie (LeMoine) Waataja, 87, of Virginia, MN, and former resident of Cook, MN passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

Erlene was born to Oscar and Elsie (Lindbeck) LeMoine on December 26, 1932.  Erlene attended school in Cook, graduating in 1951.  She married Richard "Rick" Waataja on August 20, 1960 in Cook, MN.  They were blessed with four children:  Debbie, Tim, Tammy and Bill. Rick passed away February 23, 2004.

Erlene worked at the Corner Café, Casey Rexall Drug and by Rick's side at the business they owned, E & R Enterprises (a cedar and wood products plant), all in Cook.

She and Rick enjoyed Polka dancing, collecting antique furniture, dishes (oh let's face it, anything antique).  Erlene had many hobbies.  Some of which were sewing (usually matching outfits for twins, Tim and Tammy), crocheting, tatting, wood carving (from any scrap of wood she found), and rag rug weaving.  Extended family was important to Erlene.  At her request, an annual Labor Day weekend LeMoine family picnic was started 10 years ago at the Waataja log cabin (built by hand by Rick).  She was able to attend all but a few of these picnics.  Health issues kept her from a few.

Erlene was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and Elsie; her beloved husband Rick; brothers: Clifford LeMoine, James LeMoine, Richard "Dick" LeMoine, and Rodney LeMoine; sisters: Shirley Sikkila and Gloria Fischer; brothers-in-law: Russell Sikkila and Pete Fischer; son-in-law Richard Lenzen.

Erlene is survived by her children:  Debra "Debbie" Lenzen of Cook, MN; Timothy "Tim" (Susan) Waataja of Summerville, SC; Tamara "Tammy" (Mark) Duame of Mt. Iron, MN; William "Bill" (Di) Waataja of Burnsville, MN; sisters:  Zona (Adrian) Perkio of Britt, MN; Karen (Kevin) Roche of Virginia, MN; Sandra (Karl) Norman of Apache Junction, AZ; sisters-in-law:  Darlene Richards of Shell Lake, WI; Colleen LeMoine of Alexandria, MN; Alice LeMoine of Aurora, MN; grandchildren:  Terri (Leonard Pahule) Jansen; Jason (Grace) Lenzen; Joey Lenzen; Kyle Aune; Ross Waataja; great grandchildren:  Cianna Jansen; Reese Jansen; Colton Lenzen; Lane Lenzen; Tyson Lenzen; Jayden Lenzen; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cook, MN.  Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the church.  To leave an online condolence visit www.mlakerfuneralhome.com