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As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:
Following a life filled with faith and family, Kristine Eva Hietala, 74, a resident of Chassell passed away peacefully on Monday, July 29, 2024, at Solvay House Hospice in Duluth, MN.
Kris was born on October 8, 1949, in Baraga, MI, to fabian and Lempi (Ylitalo) Maki. She spent her youth there and graduated from Baraga High School with the class of 1967. While in School, Kris spent many years in 4-H, especially enjoying sewing projects during the winter and showing dairy animals at the Baraga County Fair during the summer months. She was once crowned Dairy Princess! She also showed her animals at the UP State Fair. Kris played the saxophone in the school band and had fun on many band trips including playing at the University of Michigan’s Band Day. She was a cheerleader and participated in many other school groups. She and her sisters picked strawberries during the summers earning five cents a quart. She also enjoyed swimming in the Sturgeon River and family picnics at Twin Lakes State Park.
After graduation, Kris went on to attend Prospect Hall, a women’s secretarial school in Milwaukee, WI, for a year and was later employed by an attorney in the Traverse City area for another year before making the decision to devote herself to home and family.
She married Dennis Hietala on December 31, 1967, and they lived in Traverse City for about 8 years, later residing in Redford, MI, Bruce Crossing, MI, and long-term in Chassell, MI, before they parted ways in 2006. Kris resided in her Snake River Hill home for the remainder of her life until she moved to live with her daughter, Sarah, in the last year due to illness. In more recent years, Kris loved horse camping trips, side-by-side rides with friends and spending time with her children and grandchildren, including traveling to attend their school and extracurricular events. She amazed everyone with her gentle spirit, wit, and stamina in traveling between everyone’s homes. She was avidly involved with Bible Study groups and her faith throughout her life.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers John Maki of Gladstone, MI, and Paul Maki of Mishicot, WI.
Kris is survived by her son Darren (Lynn) Hietala of Chassell; daughters, Karen Bruder of Grand Rapids, MI, Heidi (Donald) Heikkila of Lena, WI, and Sarah Hietala (and fiancé Eric Maunu) of Esko, MN; Grandchildren, Marti (Kurtis) Kytta of Iron River, MI, Sydni Hietala of Chassell, MI, Carson and Devin Bruder of Grand Rapids, MI, Leevi and Lillian Heikkila of Lena, WI; Sisters: Kathy (John) Tepsa of Oshkosh, WI, Mary Maki (Loni Fisher) of L’Anse, MI, and Colorado; Sisters-in-law: Tammy (John) Maki of Gladstone, MI, Joann (Paul) Maki of Mishicot, WI, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A Funeral Service for Kristine will be held 1:00 pm on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church of South Range with Pastors Ernest Bylkas III & Arvo Onermaa to officiate. Friends may call on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church and on Friday, August 2, 2024, from 12:00 noon until time of services at the Church.
Her family would like to thank the ALS Association of MN for all their support and care during her illness, as well as in-home care provided by St. Croix Hospice and later Essentia Hospice and its Solvay Hospice House.
To view Kristine’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
