Cheryl Arlene Aho

1942 - 2025

Cheryl Arlene Aho, 82, of Babbitt, MN passed away peacefully in her and husband LeRoy's home on Friday December 19th 2025.
Cheryl was born on December 25, 1942 in Morristown, New Jersey, to Charles and Ora (Jarve) Pike. Her father was drafted into the Navy in 1943 and she moved to stay with her grandparents (Jarve) in Embarrass, MN during the war. Her brother David was born in Ely, MN and they moved to Maine for their father's work. The entire family moved to Embarrass in 1951.
Cheryl attended Embarrass High School and graduated from JFK High School, Babbitt, MN in 1961. She attended and graduated Ely Junior College 1961-1963. She attended the University of Duluth, MN 1963-1964 working for a Speech Pathology degree, but love and marriage happily intervened.
Cheryl and Pat Tuomala were married August 15, 1964. Pat was drafted into the Army and they moved to Colorado in 1965. They moved back to Minnesota in 1967 and lived at her grandparents Jarves farm in Embarrass after returning from Colorado. They built their family home on Blueberry Lake Road near Ely in 1968. She started making Christmas wreaths and in 1986 began their own business "Cheryl Tuomala Wreaths" at their Ely home. Her husband passed on February 14, 2000 and she sold the business.
In 2006, she sold the family home and moved to Babbitt. She started working for Dr. William Scott as a dental assistant in 2006 and retired in 2016.
Cheryl was very active in her church; teaching Sunday school and in the Ladies Auxiliary. Cheryl married LeRoy Aho September 27, 2020. They knew each other growing up and reconnected through their church. They enjoyed visiting with friends and family, riding in their side by side, picking blueberries, gardening, saunas, bible study and going to church.
Cheryl is survived by her husband LeRoy, her four children, Pat (Jean) Tuomala, Dave (Lori) Tuomala, John (G'na) Tuomala, and Matt (Carrie) Tuomala; her four step-children, Todd (Becky) Aho, Tim (Charrise) Aho, Terry Aho and Jill Aho; grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; nieces and nephews and her brother David (Roberta) Pike.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her first husband Pat Tuomala.
Memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 10th 2026, at the Assembly of God Church in Babbitt. Burial will be on a later date at Birch Lake Cemetery in Ely.
Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia, MN.