Coral J. Ackman “Rusty”, age 69, of Lake Lillian, MN, passed away on Monday June 11, 2018 at Carris (Rice Memorial) Hospital in Willmar, MN. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 15, 2018 at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the church.
Visitation will also continue on Friday morning, one hour before the service at church. Interment will be held at Peace Lutheran Cemetery. Coral Jane “Rusty” Ackman, was born on June 22, 1948, the 3rd of 7 children to Nomer and Myrtle (Matteson) Larson, in Austin, MN.
She was brought up in faith by being baptized and confirmed at Little Cedar Lutheran Church in Adams, MN. She graduated from Adams High School in 1966 and from the University of Minnesota in 1970. During her first few weeks of college, she met the love of her life; a tall, dark and handsome farmer named Keith Ackman.
He nicknamed her “Rusty” and they were united in marriage on July 18, 1970 in Adams, MN. Coral loved living on the farm and raising their 4 daughters. She took pride in their sports, church, 4-H, and music activities; but she was most proud of them as strong women that value the importance of faith, family and friends.
Coral was a home economics teacher and FLA advisor at Willmar and ACGC. She was a passionate teacher and deeply cared about her students and supporting them to succeed. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos where she started the Table Time event and sang with the Spirit of Peace choir for 35 years.
She was also President of the PLCW and active on many other church committees. She was a member of the Cosmos Women’s Club, a Danielson Hustlers 4-H Club Leader, a 4-H judge for several counties, and a Red Hat Society member. Wherever she went, she had a warm smile and engaging personality.
She had many talents and interests, but most of all she loved reading, baking, cake decorating, sewing, crafts, antiquing, singing, bowling, scrapbooking, stamping, needlecrafts, playing cards and collecting pig memorabilia. Her most favorite activity was spending time with her family and hosting many events. She enjoyed teaching her grandkids to bake, sew and make lefse.
She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and kept up many traditions in the family. After retiring from teaching, she enjoyed traveling with Keith around the US and taking vacations with her children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren adored their loving grandma.
She had a way of making them feel extra-special and was so encouraging to them to develop their unique talents. She calmly and fearlessly faced many recent health challenges. Her strong, fighting spirit was inspirational to those around her.
The devastation of the disease of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis eventually was too much for her body. Her family is thankful that she is now free from her body and able to walk again and be with her almighty savior, Jesus. Coral will be deeply missed by her loving husband Keith of Lake Lillian, MN; children Tracy (Brian) Ackman-Shaw of Owatonna, MN, Tiffany (Stephen) Thompson of Rosemount, MN, Carrie (Jory) Hanson of Hutchinson, MN and Crystal (Nick) Chojnowski of Plymouth, MN; 5 grandchildren: Ashley Hanson, Grace Hanson, Jack Thompson, Ava Thompson and Cody Shaw; brothers Noel (Chris) Larson of Eagan, MN and Lowell (Ruth) Larson of Hilton Head, SC; and sisters Meridee (Duane) Wigham of Adams, MN, Nylene (Ray) Newkirk of Wayzata, MN, Sue (John) Lupton of Maple Grove, MN and Valerie (Tim) Altendorfer of Faribault, MN.
Brother/sister in-laws; Dale and Karen Ackman, Litchfield, MN, Karen and Doug Adams, Cosmos, MN, Don and Jayne Ackman, Grove City, MN. Plus dozens of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nomer and Myrtle Larson; and father and mother-in-law, Edward and Leona Ackman, and nephew Duane Wigham.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos.
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