Albert Waldemar Haataja

Albert Waldemar Haataja, age 90, passed away Sunday, October 11, 2015, at his home in Menahga, Minnesota. Albert was born on September 24, 1925 at the family farm near Wolf Lake, Minnesota to believing parents Gustav Herman and Anna Gustava (Komulainen) Haataja. He grew up as the youngest boy with five brothers and four sisters. Country school in District #92, where Albert went until 8th grade, was about three miles from the Haataja farm. In the winter the school kids skied across the field to a neighboring farm. They left the skis there and walked the rest of the way. When asked whether he would have liked to go on to high school, Albert said that he wasn’t so interested at the time. He was also needed to help at home, since his older brothers were in the service. He was a “numbers guy,” though, and later said that he would have liked accounting. At about 60 years old, Albert got his GED. Albert married Beatrice Korpi on August 19, 1950. The farm where Beatrice grew up became the young couple’s home, and they began farming for their livelihood, where they raised their family of six children. After selling their dairy cattle in 1987, Albert and Beatrice traveled with their camper to nearly every Minnesota State Park and other camping places as well. They were able to travel to many places in the United States, made several trips to Canada, as well as one trip to Finland. In 2000, after selling their farm to their youngest son, they moved to a new home in Menahga, where Albert was able to rest from a lifetime of farm work. Albert was given many years of good health to spend with his loved ones. One of his greatest highlights was when his family—children, grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren— and his friends came to visit. Young at heart, he played countless games of beanbag toss and horseshoes with the younger generations. He also enjoyed Scrabble and jigsaw puzzles. Albert was a longtime member of the Wolf Lake Laestadian Lutheran Church, where he served for a number of years on the church board. He enjoyed serving his community, serving on the Sebeka Creamery, Runeberg Township, the Co-op Sampo, and Menahga School boards. Albert was preceded in death by parents Gustav Herman and Anna, brothers Carl, Hugo, Uno, Rudy, Ernest, and two brothers Walter and Arthur who died in infancy; sisters Edna, Helen, and Olga; a stillborn son; and granddaughter Laura Hillukka. Albert is survived by Beatrice, his loving wife of 65 years; sons Steven and his wife Patricia, of Park Rapids, Minn., Kevin Haataja, of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; John and his wife Margo, of Menahga, Minn.; daughters Lori Loukusa and her husband Pentti, of Hanover, Minn., Joy Hillukka and her husband Paul, of Elk River, Minn., Mary Pirness and her husband Adrian, of Big Lake, Minn., and daughter-in-law Margie Haataja, of Menahga, Minn.; Sister Thelma Halonen and her husband Fred, of Cokato, Minn., and sister-in-law Jennie Haataja, of Minneapolis, Minn.; 50 grandchildren; 134 great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends; and brothers and sisters in faith. Visitation will be Thursday, October 15 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a service at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Friday, October 16, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. Casketbearers include grandsons Keith Haataja, Eric Haataja, Nathan Loukusa. Daniel Hillukka, Adam Haataja, and Dion Pirness. Both events will be at the Wolf Lake Laestadian Lutheran Church, in Wolf Lake, Minn. Interment will be at the Balmi Cemetery in Wolf Lake.