Beatrice Marion Haataja

Beatrice Marion (Korpi) Haataja, age 86, passed away Monday, April 11, 2016, in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Beatrice was born on November 7, 1929, in Duluth, Minnesota, where she lived for the first three years of her life, and later, between ages 10 and 14. She was the only child of parents Eli and Nanneli (Suvanto) Korpi. Many of her growing up years were also spent on the family farm northwest of Menahga. She and her mother, with the help of two neighboring uncles, milked their few cows and did the chores on their farm when her dad was away. He was a longshoreman and in those years joined them for the winter months. The school that Beatrice attended in Midway was about two miles from the Korpi farm. Most of the time she walked with the neighbor kids, sometimes skied in the winter, or got a ride from her dad with horse and sleigh. She loved to learn. In 1947, she graduated from Menahga High School as salutatorian of her class of 20 or so students. After high school, she took a teacher training course in nearby Park Rapids and then taught at two area country schools. Beatrice married Albert Haataja from a neighboring farm, 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 her youngest child started school, she began working as a nursing assistant at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Park Rapids; later at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home, in Menahga; and for 19 years, she volunteered for the Senior Companion program, retiring in 2014, at 85 years old. The friends she made during these visits were special to her. 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 they lived together until Albert’s passing in October 2015. Soon after, her health began to decline and Beatrice spent two months at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga. The last few weeks, before her most recent illness, she lived at Woodside Manor Assisted Living. Beatrice loved nature, God’s creation—birds, flowers, and trees. On walks, she’d often identify different varieties of trees and wild flowers. She exercised nearly every day—walking or skiing. In the later years of her life, while on the treadmill, she would often recite her great-grandchildren’s first and middle names, written on a sheet of paper. Up until the day before she passed away, she called each grandchild and great-grandchild by name when they came to greet her. Beatrice was given many years of good health to spend with her loved ones. One of her greatest highlights was when her family—children, grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren—and her friends came to visit. She enjoyed serving others, always putting everyone else’s needs before her own. Beatrice was a longtime member of the Wolf Lake Laestadian Lutheran Church. She was thankful to be a child of God and prayed often in these last months that God would call her home to heaven. God answered her prayer. Beatrice was preceded in death by her husband Albert, of 65 years; parents Eli and Nanneli; a stillborn son Nathan Paul; and granddaughter Laura Hillukka. Beatrice is survived by her sons Steven and his wife Patricia, of Park Rapids, Minn.; Kevin and his wife Mary, 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-in-law Thelma Halonen and her husband Fred, of Cokato, Minn., and sister-in-law Jennie Haataja, of Minneapolis, Minn.; 50 grandchildren; over 140 great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends; and a host of brothers and sisters in faith. Visitation will be Sunday, April 17 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a service at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Monday, April 18, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. Casket bearers are grandsons Michael Haataja, Mark Haataja, Andrew Loukusa, Daniel Hillukka, Bruce Haataja, and Garret 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.