Mary Vieno Nikolai, 88, passed away Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005 in Lake View Memorial Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Finland, Minn., she was born June 20, 1916 to Toivo and Edla (Harju) Kalander, immigrants from Finland, Europe..
After completing eighth grade in school, Mary worked for Stickney's Resort in Schroeder, Finch's Resort in Manitou Falls, and as a housekeeper and telephone operator for Mary Hangartner in Beaver Bay. On Nov. 18, 1936 she married Erwin Nikolai and was a homemaker until his death in 1961. After Erwin's death, she took over his mail route, and although she didn't drive, she was the one who could change the tires that went flat on the Sawbill-Forest Center route. She was also employed in the meat department at the Finland Cooperative.
Mary was a member of the Finland Historical Society, was the Crystal Bay Township Treasurer for 60 years, treasurer of the Finland Conservation Club, and was treasurer, financial secretary and Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland, of which she and Erwin were founding members. In her early years, Mary worked with the PTA and the Finland 4-H Club. She was honored as Lake County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994 and was also Grand Marshall of the St. Urho's Day parade.
For over 60 years Mary reported the Finland News for the Lake County News Chronicle, completing her last column from her hospital bed. One of her famous lines was ''motored to''. She was noted for her Finnish baking and was Chief Booya Cook for the Booya Finn Fest each year. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. Her highlights of travel were trips to Finland, Europe, Florida, Las Vegas, a trip around Lake Superior, and a trip to Washington, D.C., given to her as a gift from the Township. She also enjoyed cribbage and Yahtzee with her grandchildren, coin and stamp collecting, casinos and watching Jeopardy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a sister, Sophie Nikula.
She is survived by a son, Robert E. (Linda) Nikolai; daughters, Ann M. (Larry) Striker and Verna M. (Jim) Sinderman; grandchildren, Gayle Nikolai, Gary Nikolai, Chris and Michael Sinderman, Doug Striker, DeAnn (Tony Jordan) Striker; and step-granddaughter, Kristi Striker; a great-grandson; sisters, Ruth Himes and Lila Hangartner; sister-in-law, Arlene Tikkanen; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary had "Sisu". God be with her Jumala on sinun kanssa
Burial was at Crystal Bay Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Finland, Minn., she was born June 20, 1916 to Toivo and Edla (Harju) Kalander, immigrants from Finland, Europe..
After completing eighth grade in school, Mary worked for Stickney's Resort in Schroeder, Finch's Resort in Manitou Falls, and as a housekeeper and telephone operator for Mary Hangartner in Beaver Bay. On Nov. 18, 1936 she married Erwin Nikolai and was a homemaker until his death in 1961. After Erwin's death, she took over his mail route, and although she didn't drive, she was the one who could change the tires that went flat on the Sawbill-Forest Center route. She was also employed in the meat department at the Finland Cooperative.
Mary was a member of the Finland Historical Society, was the Crystal Bay Township Treasurer for 60 years, treasurer of the Finland Conservation Club, and was treasurer, financial secretary and Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland, of which she and Erwin were founding members. In her early years, Mary worked with the PTA and the Finland 4-H Club. She was honored as Lake County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994 and was also Grand Marshall of the St. Urho's Day parade.
For over 60 years Mary reported the Finland News for the Lake County News Chronicle, completing her last column from her hospital bed. One of her famous lines was ''motored to''. She was noted for her Finnish baking and was Chief Booya Cook for the Booya Finn Fest each year. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. Her highlights of travel were trips to Finland, Europe, Florida, Las Vegas, a trip around Lake Superior, and a trip to Washington, D.C., given to her as a gift from the Township. She also enjoyed cribbage and Yahtzee with her grandchildren, coin and stamp collecting, casinos and watching Jeopardy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a sister, Sophie Nikula.
She is survived by a son, Robert E. (Linda) Nikolai; daughters, Ann M. (Larry) Striker and Verna M. (Jim) Sinderman; grandchildren, Gayle Nikolai, Gary Nikolai, Chris and Michael Sinderman, Doug Striker, DeAnn (Tony Jordan) Striker; and step-granddaughter, Kristi Striker; a great-grandson; sisters, Ruth Himes and Lila Hangartner; sister-in-law, Arlene Tikkanen; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary had "Sisu". God be with her Jumala on sinun kanssa
Burial was at Crystal Bay Cemetery.
Mary Vieno Nikolai, 88, passed away Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005 in Lake View Memorial Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Finland, Minn., she was born June 20, 1916 to Toivo and Edla (Harju) Kalander, immigrants from Finland, Europe..
After completing eighth grade in school, Mary worked for Stickney's Resort in Schroeder, Finch's Resort in Manitou Falls, and as a housekeeper and telephone operator for Mary Hangartner in Beaver Bay. On Nov. 18, 1936 she married Erwin Nikolai and was a homemaker until his death in 1961. After Erwin's death, she took over his mail route, and although she didn't drive, she was the one who could change the tires that went flat on the Sawbill-Forest Center route. She was also employed in the meat department at the Finland Cooperative.
Mary was a member of the Finland Historical Society, was the Crystal Bay Township Treasurer for 60 years, treasurer of the Finland Conservation Club, and was treasurer, financial secretary and Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland, of which she and Erwin were founding members. In her early years, Mary worked with the PTA and the Finland 4-H Club. She was honored as Lake County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994 and was also Grand Marshall of the St. Urho's Day parade.
For over 60 years Mary reported the Finland News for the Lake County News Chronicle, completing her last column from her hospital bed. One of her famous lines was ''motored to''. She was noted for her Finnish baking and was Chief Booya Cook for the Booya Finn Fest each year. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. Her highlights of travel were trips to Finland, Europe, Florida, Las Vegas, a trip around Lake Superior, and a trip to Washington, D.C., given to her as a gift from the Township. She also enjoyed cribbage and Yahtzee with her grandchildren, coin and stamp collecting, casinos and watching Jeopardy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a sister, Sophie Nikula.
She is survived by a son, Robert E. (Linda) Nikolai; daughters, Ann M. (Larry) Striker and Verna M. (Jim) Sinderman; grandchildren, Gayle Nikolai, Gary Nikolai, Chris and Michael Sinderman, Doug Striker, DeAnn (Tony Jordan) Striker; and step-granddaughter, Kristi Striker; a great-grandson; sisters, Ruth Himes and Lila Hangartner; sister-in-law, Arlene Tikkanen; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary had "Sisu". God be with her Jumala on sinun kanssa
Burial was at Crystal Bay Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Finland, Minn., she was born June 20, 1916 to Toivo and Edla (Harju) Kalander, immigrants from Finland, Europe..
After completing eighth grade in school, Mary worked for Stickney's Resort in Schroeder, Finch's Resort in Manitou Falls, and as a housekeeper and telephone operator for Mary Hangartner in Beaver Bay. On Nov. 18, 1936 she married Erwin Nikolai and was a homemaker until his death in 1961. After Erwin's death, she took over his mail route, and although she didn't drive, she was the one who could change the tires that went flat on the Sawbill-Forest Center route. She was also employed in the meat department at the Finland Cooperative.
Mary was a member of the Finland Historical Society, was the Crystal Bay Township Treasurer for 60 years, treasurer of the Finland Conservation Club, and was treasurer, financial secretary and Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland, of which she and Erwin were founding members. In her early years, Mary worked with the PTA and the Finland 4-H Club. She was honored as Lake County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994 and was also Grand Marshall of the St. Urho's Day parade.
For over 60 years Mary reported the Finland News for the Lake County News Chronicle, completing her last column from her hospital bed. One of her famous lines was ''motored to''. She was noted for her Finnish baking and was Chief Booya Cook for the Booya Finn Fest each year. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. Her highlights of travel were trips to Finland, Europe, Florida, Las Vegas, a trip around Lake Superior, and a trip to Washington, D.C., given to her as a gift from the Township. She also enjoyed cribbage and Yahtzee with her grandchildren, coin and stamp collecting, casinos and watching Jeopardy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a sister, Sophie Nikula.
She is survived by a son, Robert E. (Linda) Nikolai; daughters, Ann M. (Larry) Striker and Verna M. (Jim) Sinderman; grandchildren, Gayle Nikolai, Gary Nikolai, Chris and Michael Sinderman, Doug Striker, DeAnn (Tony Jordan) Striker; and step-granddaughter, Kristi Striker; a great-grandson; sisters, Ruth Himes and Lila Hangartner; sister-in-law, Arlene Tikkanen; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary had "Sisu". God be with her Jumala on sinun kanssa
Burial was at Crystal Bay Cemetery.
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