Ellen Julia Santi

Ellen Julia Santi, age 96, of Menahga, MN, formerly of Floodwood, MN peacefully passed into eternal life on Friday morning, June 5, 2015 at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga. Ellen was born on December 19, 1918 to William and Saima (Typpo) Kuismi near Epworth, North Dakota. As a baby of ten months of age, she moved with her family to Minnesota where her family settled on a farm in Green Valley Township, northwest of Menahga. Ellen attended country school near her home through the eighth grade. As a young woman, she helped at home and also did house work for other area families. On August 15, 1959, she was united in marriage to Reino John Santi at Cedar Valley, MN. They were blessed with two daughters: Mary and Linda. Ellen devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and daughters. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She also helped her husband in the operation of their Grade A dairy farm in Cedar Valley Township near Floodwood until they sold the dairy cows in 1983 and retired from farming. They sold the farm in 1993 and moved back to Menahga where they purchased a home in town. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Reino in 2001. At that time she sold her home and moved into the Woodside Manor Assisted Living in Menahga until failing health forced her to become a resident of the Nursing Home in 2012. She will be lovingly remembered by her two daughters: Mary Ellen Vaananen of Hameenlinna, Finland and Linda Anne Durre of Coon Rapids, MN; three precious grandchildren: Sami, Anni and Emmi Vaananen of Finland; one sister, Irene (Floyd) Harvala of Menahga and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four sisters: Sally Niemela, Ingrid Koski, Lyyli Schwartz and Martha Ollanketo; four brothers: Onni, Leonard and two brothers in infancy. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Thursday, June 11, 2015 at the Pickerel Lake Apostolic Lutheran Church near Wolf Lake with Mr. James Yliniemi officiating. Visitation will begin at 9 AM prior to the service. Casket bearers will be: Dave Kuismi, Roy Schwartz, Lyle Schwartz, Burt Hill, Nicholas Hill and Floyd Harvala. Honorary casket bearers will be Julia Wehmas, Ida Maninga and Renee Hill. Interment will be made in the Cedar Valley Cemetery near Floodwood. To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.cardinipearson.com