Betty Ann Sakkinen

The closed memorial service (immediate family) for Betty Sakkinen of Menahga, will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, at Assembly of God Church in Menahga, with Pastor Brian Erickson officiating. A separate visitation for family and friends (masks required) will be held at the Wevley funeral home in Sebeka on Friday, October 16 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Betty Sakkinen has gone to a new home. She took God’s hand and stepped into eternity. At the age of 85, she passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Woodside Manor in Menahga, MN with the gentle care of St. Josephs hospice and her children. Betty was born on August 17, 1935 in Menahga, MN to Ade and Ethel (Olson) Warmbold. She grew up on a farm with nine brothers and five sisters. She attended Menahga school and graduated in 1954. She was united in marriage to Wilfred Sakkinen on September 12, 1955. They were blessed with six children. They lived briefly in Butte Montana before settling back in in rural Menahga, Minnesota where they farmed. In addition to being a homemaker and working on the farm, Betty worked outside the home over 40 years at Chucks Country Foods as a cashier and Co-op Grocery as cashier. Through these two jobs she met and got to know generations of families in the Menahga community. She greeted people with a smile and took time to ask them how they were doing. She also worked at Munsingwear, Decko Mobile Home, and cleaned homes for some of the teachers in Menahga. She was an active member in the Assembly of God church and a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary. She loved bowling, playing bingo, card games, playing Yahtzee and Tri-ominos. She especially enjoyed family gatherings with the laughter and the games, and her 6 grandchildren – Lynn Sakkinen (Toby Pearson), Aaron Sakkinen (Alana), Travis Lusti (Ashlee Anderson), Corey Sakkinen (Jodi Cawson), Lindsey Koskie, Austin Helmin and her 4 great-grandchildren – Ty Pearson, Jonas Lusti, Owen Sakkinen and Colby Sakkinen. Betty is survived by her children, Larry Sakkinen (Teresa), Sharlayne Lusti (David), Sherry Koskie (Duane), Shawn Helmin (Jody); brothers Delbert Warmbold (Janice), Duane Warmbold (Carol), Dorrance Warmbold (Diane), Jeff Warmbold (Carol) sister Ruth Bye, sister-in-law’s Eleanor Warmbold and Sandy Warmbold. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Wilfred, daughters Rita and Rosalyn, parents Ade and Ethel, siblings Roy, Harold, Howard, Junior, Herbert, Gloria, Delores, Dorothy, and Audrey.