Shon Hotakainen

Shon Wesley Hotakainen was born on December 10, 1963 to Leonard and Gloria (Pierce) Hotakainen. Shon attended New York Mills High School, and then took classes at Wadena Vo-tech School.

In July 1984 Shon married Carrol Ellingworth. They were married 18 years and were blessed with three daughters: Nacishia, Megan, and Karri. In 2005 Shon was blessed with another daughter Jadah Canoy-Hotakainen with her mother Linda Kraft.

Shon had many jobs through the years including Wadena Automall, Dondelinger Automotive, Lund Boats, and most recently Wensman Seed co.

He was a caring, witty, sarcastic man who loved his family and friends, and always had a joke to tell. He enjoyed deer hunting, playing pool, listening to music, and watching the history channel and old movies. Shon was also an avid Vikings fan who would never miss a game. You could always find him on game day yelling at the T.V. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his 10 grandchildren.

On October 4, 2021 at age 57, Shon passed away at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota with his daughters by his side. Shon will be dearly missed by many. He is preceded in death by his father: Leonard Hotakainen; mother Gloria: Nieminen; and brother: Leon Hotakainen.

Surviving Shon are his daughters: Nacishia (Josh) Rinde of Crosby; Megan (Daryl) Dunbar of Wadena; Karri (Jordan) Sherman of Wadena; and Jadah Canoy-Hotakainen of Detroit Lakes; grandchildren: McKenna, Isabella, Mayson, Alayna, Lydia, Brayden, Natalie, Serenity, Grant, and Wyatt; brothers: Lance Hotakainen, Duane Hotakainen, Scott Nickolauson, and Jay Hotakainen; sisters: Betty Hotakainen, Mary Dorenbush, Nancy Benson, and Cindy Nickolauson-Fincher; along with many other relatives and friends.

Shon's family requests that those who attend the memorial service please wear Minnesota Viking's attire.

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