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Elina Martha Salmela Obituary – 06/09/08


Elina Martha Salmela, age 100, of Dassel, died Monday, June 9, 2008, at Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home.

Elina was born Jan. 26, 1908, at Kingston to Jacob and Emma (Hemmi) Myllykangas. She grew up on the farm in Kingston and attended Oak Park Country School.

Elina married Albert Emil Salmela April 16, 1927, at the Kingston Apostolic Lutheran Church.

The couple farmed, first on Albert’s home place west of Lake Francis. They then moved to a farm in Cokato Township Oct. 6, 1929. Elina worked hard on the farm; they milked cows by hand until 1943.

Elina enjoyed gardening, especially flowers, made rugs, and did needlework, sewing many of the family’s clothes. One of her favorite activities was playing Scrabble.

She was a member of First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel.

Elina entered the Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home Feb. 21, 2002.

She is survived by her sons, Lloyd of Cokato, and Gerald of Dassel; daughters Darlene (Ralph) Dokken of Littleton, Colo., and Sandra Salmela of Santa Monica, Calif.; brother Earl Myllykangas of Washington state; and sister, Mildred Hendrickson of Dassel.

Elina is further survived by grandchildren Christine Salmela of Virginia Beach, Va., David (Lora) Dokken of Conifer, Colo.; and Andrew (Erin) Dokken of Littleton, Colo.; great-granddaughter Mandy Dokken; and brother-in-law Ernest (Bernice) Salmela of Hastings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Emma Myllykangas; husband Albert; brothers David, Roy, Edwin, and William; and sisters Elma, Sylvia, and Marcella.

Funeral service was Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m. at First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel, with Pastor Mark Koivisto officiating. Music was provided by Diane Grangroth. Interment was in the Cokato Finnish Cemetery.

Visitation was Wednesday, June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, and continued Thursday for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Casket bearers were Dean Hendrickson, Steven Myllykangas, Ken Myllykangas, Harlan Myllykangas, Fred Halonen, Dick Wuollet, and Harvey Grangroth.

Arrangements were by the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato.

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