Ethel Lucile Tapio

Ethel Lucile (Kinnunen) Tapio passed away on April 6, 2014 age 83.   Ethel was born on March 25, 1931 in Wadena, Minnesota to Hugo and Ruby Kinnunen. She grew up in the Menahga area where she attended country school. She graduated from Menahga High School with the class of 1949.   On November 12, 1949 she was united in marriage to Onnie Tapio. To this union seven children were born. Soon after they were married they moved to the Iron Range. After a few years they relocated to Minneapolis to raise their family.   In Minneapolis Ethel worked as a waitress before starting her career with F.W. Woolworth Company. She started as a cashier, but several promotions resulted in moves to display and setup, eventually opening new stores as F.W. Woolworth grew. She advanced to the regional office as an assistant to the Woolworth’s toy buyers Her career with F.W. Woolworth lasted fifteen years.   In 1974 Ethel, Onnie and their son, Steven moved to Menahga, Minnesota. Ethel was a waitress at the Menahga Café, Menahga VFW Club and the Menahga Municipal. Eventually she worked at the “Muni” as a bartender and retired after thirteen years. After retiring from the “Muni” Ethel, along with her friend and companion Ralph Cox Sr. opened Ethel’s Secondhand Store. They ran the store for ten years. During this tenure they went to flea markets and auctions, which she really enjoyed.   Ethel was active in her community as a 4-H leader, Member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 6206, Gateway Lions and the First English Lutheran Church in Menahga. Her hobbies included collecting teapots, reading, playing cards and fancy sewing.   Ethel is survived by her children: Joyce Thompson of Brooklyn Park, MN; John (Dorine) Tapio of Menahga; Roger (Anne) Tapio of Saratoga Springs, New York; David Tapio of Lakeville, MN; Onnie (Julie) Tapio, Jr. of Andover and Steven Tapio of Menahga, brother Richard Kinnunen, sister Ellen Yrjo, and sister-in-law Clara Kinnunen; 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; many cousins, nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her husband, Onnie Tapio, son, Norman Tapio, two brothers, Martin and Virgil Kinnunen, sister, Shirley Ecker and her parents, Hugo and Ruby.   Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2014 at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga and one hour prior to the service at the church.   Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga with Pastor Steven A. Bruer officiating. Interment will be at Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery.