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HOUGHTON — William “Bill” Toivonen, 101, a long-time Houghton resident, died July 24, 2017, at the Lighthouse-Hancock.
He was born in Tapiola on November 18, 1915, son of Kasper and Elina (Walkkinen) Toivonen. He attended the John A. Doelle School through the 10th grade. He then attended Houghton High School, graduating with the Class of 1934.
Together with his father starting in 1936, for five years they started furnishing cedar and hardwood, mine timbers for Copper Range and Isle Royale Copper Mines, plus railroad ties, pulpwood and sawmill logs.
He then started purchasing stumpage and bought a sawmill, which he operated for three years. He then started logging for Consolidated Paper Company, Vulcan Sawmill and Northern Hardwoods.
Bill retired in 1980, making it 44 years being self employed dealing with forest products.
On September 2, 1961, he was married to the former Edith Pascoe at the Grace United Methodist Church in Houghton, which he also attended in the past.
Bill really enjoyed the outdoors, walking in his timber land, hunting, fishing and gardening, especially flowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Edith; and two sisters, Helen Reichardt and Ruth Fields.
Surviving are two nephews, Paul (Kristina) Fields and John (Linda) Fields; two nieces, Lois (Ralph) Bergstad and Linda Reichardt; a great-niece and a great-nephew.
The family would like to thank Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly for their help and compassion given to Bill over the years.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Mountain View Mortuary in South Range, with Pastor Chuck Williams of Grace United Methodist Church, Houghton, to officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.
Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.
