Elizabeth "Betty" Anne (Kannisto) Salo

Elizabeth “Betty” A. Salo, age 84, of Eben Junction, died peacefully late Monday evening, October 3, 2016 at the Norlite Nursing Home in Marquette.  She was born the youngest of six children to Charles and Fannie (Buckley) Kannisto on September 26, 1932 in Munising.  Betty grew up in Rumley and was a lifetime resident of the Eben, Rumley, and Chatham area.  She graduated from Eben High School in 1952.  On March 4, 1954, Betty married Walter Leonard Salo and together they raised their three children.  Betty worked as a cashier and butcher at the Eben Unity Co-op for over twenty years.  She also worked as a bartender, housekeeper, waitress, and potato picker.  Betty enjoyed gardening, knitting, baking, canning, cooking, reading the newspaper, and watching the local news and sports on television.  She was a supporter of the Eben Eagles, Superior Central Cougars, Detroit Tigers, and Detroit Pistons.  Betty loved playing Bingo and loved her cat, Mitsy.  She was proud of her Finnish heritage, and Betty mostly enjoyed the sauna and listening to Walter play Finnish Waltz’ and Polkas on his accordion.  She and Walter were married over forty-four years when he preceded her in death on October 4, 1998.

Betty is survived by her son – Bernard (Debbie) Salo of Trenary; daughter – Anita (John) Salo-Jonas of Marquette; grandchildren – Brandon, Stephenie, Jocelyn (Jacob), Jolene, Justin, Shelly (Todd), Kyle, and Jeremy (Katy); great grandchildren – Stephen, J.T., Tyler, Zander, and Kaidence; nephew – Robert Ollila; sister-in-law – Sylvia Kannisto; and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, son Dale (Linda) Salo, twin sister – Helen Keto, and other siblings Vera Kannisto, Arthur Kannisto, Ruth Joki, and infant Donald Kannisto.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Sunday, October 9, 2016.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.   Pastor Tom Schierkolk will conduct Betty’s funeral service in the funeral home’s chapel at 3:00 p.m.  A potluck fellowship luncheon will take place at the Snack Bar in Eben following her funeral.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham on Monday, October 10, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. where she will be escorted by Justin Jonas, Jacob Mattson, Jeremy Bigger, Kyle Bigger, Wayne Salo, and Donald Salo.