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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Mary (Maija) Tolkkinen, age 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday Nov 6, 2022 at Gardenview Assisted Living of Calumet Mi.
Mary was born March 24, 1931, in Laurium Michigan a daughter of Walter and Aili (Harju) Torola. She attended local schools. She was united in marriage to William Tolkkinen on March 25, 1950. They resided in Plymouth Minnesota, and in 1970 they moved to Mohawk Michigan. They raised 13 children. At the age of 45, she received her RN and worked at Calumet and Portage hospitals, and for many years at Houghton County, retiring at the age of 78. Her love of gardening could be seen in her yard full of flowers each summer. They wintered many years in Texas. William passed away in 2020, she then lived at the Keweenaw Pines in Calumet for a year and for the last 9 months at Gardenview.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband William, a daughter Wendy, her father, mother, 3 brothers- Leo (Esther), Peter (Ellen), Paul, 3 sisters-Ellen (Chester) Ylitalo, Judy (Jack) Haataja, and Eva.
Mary is survived by 1 sister-Lana (Ed) Heinonen, 2 brothers-Robert (Lorraine) and Allan (Maria). 12 children-Mark of Crystal MN, Tom of Tampa FLA., Susan (Rob) McDowel Leroy, MI, Stuart of Seattle WA, Mary (Terry) Hillstrom of Calumet MI, Paula (Gordon) Leppanen of Ishpeming, MI, Kathryn (Mark) Leukama of Delano, MN,, Warren (Sue) of Great Falls, MT, Allen (Janet) of Howell, Mi, Owen(Cheri) of Fort White, FLA., Kenneth of Las Vegas, NV., Les (Pam) of Xenia, Ohio, 54 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers in faith.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM in the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Fulton with Pastor Mark Halonen to officiate.
Visitation will be held on Thursday at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Fulton from 10-11 AM prior to the service.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Online condolences can be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
Burial will be in Cokato Finnish Cemetery in Cokato, Minnesota.
