Hilda Lehtimaki

Hilda Lehtimaki, age 97, of Menahga, passed away peacefully at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga on February 13, 2024.

Hilda was born April 7, 1926, on her parent's farm in Green Valley Township, Minnesota, to Peter and Selma (Määttä) Hallikainen. As was the custom of the area, Hilda learned to speak Finnish before learning English. Hilda attended District #92 school through eighth grade.  Later she attended high school in Menahga completing ninth grade. As a young woman, Hilda grew up helping with household and farm chores. She remembers going to the barn early in the morning while it was still dark and milking cows before school.

Hilda, with her two sisters, Ida and Lillian, took the train to Chicago, Illinois to find work. Hilda worked for Motorola Company in Chicago most of her working life. She went to evening school where she learned how to type.

On June 29, 1952, Hilda was united in marriage to Reino Lehtimaki in Chicago, Illinois. Hilda's favorite memory was their honeymoon trip to California on Route 66 and staying behind the "Hollywood" sign. Another memory was her trip to Finland in 1960. She was lovingly remembered by her Hallikainen relatives and kept in contact with them all her life.

Hilda was always a very "put together' woman. She loved to put her beautiful red hair in a French bun and wear dresses with stylish shoes, her outfit was completed with a necklace, usually a string of pearls. She always seemed so worldly to her little nieces although her pants came out when going fishing with the nephews. She always came to the farm and worked on her summer vacation from Motorola. She mailed special gifts to the nieces and nephews at Christmas time which were fondly remembered.

Hilda and Reino retired to Eagle River, Wisconsin and lived there for many years. Reino died in 1987. Hilda came to live in the Menahga area, first living with her sister, Ada, then moved to a home in Menahga and lived there for several years until moving to the Menahga Nursing Home.

Hilda had a cat named Musie. She always fed it the best diet of liver and tuna.

Although Hilda had no children, she loved her great-nieces and patiently taught sewing and crocheting to them. Also sitting outside her garage and visiting about life, eating sandwiches, and drinking Pepsi was a wonderful memory for them.

Hilda will be lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death and waiting for her in heaven is her husband Reino, her sisters Ida Maki, Alma, Lillian, and Ada Hallikainen; brothers Evert and Henry; brother-in-law Willard Maki; sister-in-law Ellen Hallikainen; nephews Robert and John Maki, Glen, Marvin, and Leon Hallikainen; one niece, Lana Renneberg (Hallikainen). Hilda's Lehtimaki in-laws, brother and many sisters-in-law from Reino's side plus many nieces and nephews.