1921
Bertha
2013
Bertha Pitkamaki
February 18, 1921 — December 21, 2013
Eben Junction
Bertha Pitkamaki, 92 years, 10 months and 3 days, passed away at 4:51 Saturday morning, December 21, 2013 at Marquette General Hospital. Bertha was born in Ishpeming on February 18, 1921 to the late Charles and Lydia (Ahinko) Virtanen. She married Eugene Pitkamaki on June 3, 1944. Bertha was a homemaker and worked the dairy farm with Eugene. She loved to cook and bake bread and biscuits. The hay crew on the farm enjoyed breakfast and lunch over the years. She was an avid reader, collected recipes, and loved to recite favorite poems. Bertha traveled to Scandinavia and many states in the U.S. through Debbie Tours. She was a member of Sion Lutheran Church and she loved the farm and the animals.
She is survived by her children - Mary Ann Laukka of Negaunee, Barbara (George) Tyner of Chatham, Arlene (James) Lancour of Negaunee, Raymond Pitkamaki of Eben and Carol (Dave) Fleck of Munising; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and her dog, Oscar. Bertha was preceded in death by her parents Lydia and Charles, husband Eugene who died on September 19, 1981, brother Tauno Virtanen, sister Lillian Walimaki, two younger sisters, and son-in-law Carl Laukka.
Bertha lived a long and fruitful life full of love, family and friendship.
Services will be held on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Bertha's funeral service at 1:00 p.m. A fellowship gathering will follow the service at the church. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in the spring and she will be escorted by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bertha Pitkamaki, 92 years, 10 months and 3 days, passed away at 4:51 Saturday morning, December 21, 2013 at Marquette General Hospital. Bertha was born in Ishpeming on February 18, 1921 to the late Charles and Lydia (Ahinko) Virtanen. She married Eugene Pitkamaki on June 3, 1944. Bertha was a homemaker and worked the dairy farm with Eugene. She loved to cook and bake bread and biscuits. The hay crew on the farm enjoyed breakfast and lunch over the years. She was an avid reader, collected recipes, and loved to recite favorite poems. Bertha traveled to Scandinavia and many states in the U.S. through Debbie Tours. She was a member of Sion Lutheran Church and she loved the farm and the animals.
She is survived by her children - Mary Ann Laukka of Negaunee, Barbara (George) Tyner of Chatham, Arlene (James) Lancour of Negaunee, Raymond Pitkamaki of Eben and Carol (Dave) Fleck of Munising; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and her dog, Oscar. Bertha was preceded in death by her parents Lydia and Charles, husband Eugene who died on September 19, 1981, brother Tauno Virtanen, sister Lillian Walimaki, two younger sisters, and son-in-law Carl Laukka.
Bertha lived a long and fruitful life full of love, family and friendship.
Services will be held on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Bertha's funeral service at 1:00 p.m. A fellowship gathering will follow the service at the church. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in the spring and she will be escorted by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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