Helen V. Haapala
Helen V. Haapala, 90, of Virginia died Sunday, February 6, 2011, in the Virginia Convalescent Center. A Memorial service will be held Friday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia. Visitation was at the Range Funeral Home in Virginia on Thursday, February 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.and will continue on Friday, February 11 at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church beginning one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m.service. Pastor Nathan Sager will officiate. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
Helen was born in Virginia on June 3, 1920 to Gust and Sanni (Sippola) Kari. She grew up in Idington, MN and attended the former Idington School. She graduated from Cook High School in 1938 and Virginia Junior College in 1940. She worked as a bookkeeper at the Coop Store in Virginia, where she met her husband-to-be, Niilo Haapala. They were married in the Zion Lutheran Parsonage on May 15, 1943.
Helen was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Gethsemane Lutheran Church and its Miriam Circle, and the Gethsemane Mission Sewing group. She had been active in both the Lincoln and Washington School PTAs. She loved gardening and bird watching, and she read two newspapers every day, faithfully doing the crossword puzzles. Helen read two or three books a week, and the family would like to thank Carol Umhauer of the Virginia Public Library for keeping her supplied with books. She also appreciated classical music and listened to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on the radio every Saturday. Her favorite music was played by the Mesabi Community Orchestra, the Mesabi Community Band, and the Virginia City Band.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Gust and Sanni; and her husband, Niilo on January 28, 1987.
Helen is survived by: One Son: Robert (Donna) Haapala of Virginia, MN; Two Daughters: Elinor (Tim) Jensen of North Las Vegas, NV and Mary (Jim Myers) of Embarrass, MN; One Grandson: Christopher Haapala of Virginia, MN; One Sister: Norma (Leonard) Ojala of Idington, MN; Six Nieces and Nephews: Linda (Keith Miesel) Ojala of St. Paul, MN, Tom Ojala of Idington, MN, Annette (Ron Heytens) Ojala of Superior WI, Howard (Bea) Tamminen of Cornucopia, WI, Sandra (Harry) Giltz of Canton, OH and Lois (Tom) Long of Eveleth, MN; Two Godsons: Arthur (Vi) Maki of Gilbert, MN and Nick (Mary) Maki of Hibbing, MN; Special Friends: Betty Glavich and Shirley Aluni of Virginia, MN, Marian Vranicar of Mt. Iron, MN; Special Neighbors: Gary and Linda Branville, Tom Morgan and Penny Stecker.
