Munising
Lillian E. Kelto, age 84, of 409 Prospect Street, Munising died surrounded by her children on Monday evening, November 19, 2012 at the Harbour View Assisted Living Center in Munising. She was born in Ramsay, Michigan, the tenth of eleven children to the late Jacob A. and Kaisa Emelia (Riikonen) Heikkinen. Lillian grew up in Ramsay and graduated from Bessemer High School in 1945. On December 22, 1948 she married her high school sweetheart Rudolph E. Kelto. Lillian and Rudy spent most of their married lives together in Munising where they raised their five children. She was an active member of both the Sion Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Lillian and Rudy served for two years in a group called, Laborers for Christ. They traveled around the country in their Airstream and helped build churches in Georgia, New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, and also in Ishpeming and Escanaba. Lillian enjoyed many good times and laughs with her coffee klatch over the past fifty years. She was also an avid sports fan, following the Wolverines, Packers, golf, and her grandchildren. Lillian loved being with her family and enjoying her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her five children - Janet (Pat) Malone of Twin Lake, Joyce Oas of Prescott, AZ, Paul (Jill) Kelto of Chatham, Jane (Bill) LaFave of Munising, and Peter (Sharon) Kelto of Munising; grandchildren - Shane (Ali) Malone, Shelby (Frank) Lazeren, Tristan (Jim) Cotey, Colin (Kristin) and Cody Oas, Seth (Jessica) Kelto, Hope (Chris) Bollig, Brad and Brent LaFave, and Abbey, Andrew, and Austin Kelto; great-grandchildren - Josie, Peter, and Audrey Malone, Corey and Kaila Cotey, Griffin and Jillian Oas, Evan Kelto, Maggie and Bennett Bollig, and Tori and Logan LaFave; brother - Art Heikkinen; in-laws - Pat, Mary Helen, Eileen, and Dick (Clarice) Kelto; and numerous nieces and nephews. Lillian was preceded in death by her husband - Rudy; parents; sibblings - Anne, John, George, Eino, Ralph, Carlo, Ed, Wilho, and Don; and grandson - Corey Oas.
Services will be held at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Munising on Friday, November 23, 2012. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Paul Kelto conducting Lillian's funeral at 6:00 p.m. She will be escorted by her grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Lillian's name to the Sion Lutheran Church of Chatham or the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Munising.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Harbour View, North Woods Home Nursing and Hospice, Commission on Aging, and Dr. Said and his Staff.