Kiana Lynn Jarvelin

Kiana Lynn Järvelin, age 16, of Menahga Minnesota was called to rest on March 1st, 2021 at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo, ND. Kiana was born on April 7th, 2004 in Turku, Finland to Kara Haataja and Pekka Järvelin. She spent the first years of her life in Finland. She was the oldest child of their group of friends, and the light of many lives. She had the brightest smile and the cutest Finnish accent as a little girl. When Kiana was 7, she moved to Menahga, Minnesota with her Mom and her little sister Aliah. It was there that she lived for the rest of her short life. Kiana was known for her kind and generous heart, and was often involved in helping others. She loved babies and she spent a lot of time babysitting her many cousins; they all loved her dearly. You could often find her treating her friends to ice cream, running errands for anyone who needed it, or just simply being a calm loving voice to a friend or loved one. Whether she was coming or going, Kiana always had a hug and an “I love you” for those who were close to her. Kiana was an ambitious girl; she already had a few different jobs in her short life. She started babysitting at a fairly young age and also cleaned houses. Then she was employed at Kahvila and the Snuggle & Snooze Inn Dog Kennel. She most recently worked at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home, and was employed there before she passed away. Starting with her first paycheck, Kiana saved up enough money to buy a little truck in her favorite color, red. Along with working hard where she was employed, Kiana was a big help at home as well. She learned how to cook and bake at a young age, and enjoyed making meals for her Mom and sister. She taught herself how to make crescent rolls and these became her specialty; she brought them to every family function and gave them for birthday gifts. She also used her creative skills to make special birthday cakes for her Mom and sister and Grandma Margie. Kiana is survived by her Mom Kara Haataja of Menahga, her Dad Pekka Järvelin of Helsinki, Finland, her sister Aliah of Menahga, her grandparents Margie Haataja of Menahga, Kevin Haataja of Sleepy Eye, and Seppo and Eeva Järvelin of Pihtipudas, Finland, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her uncle, Paul Haataja, her cousin Janne Järvelin, and an infant cousin on the Haataja side. Visitation for Kiana will be from 5 to 8 PM on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga with a prayer service at 7 pm. Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM Friday, March 12, 2021 at the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Balmi Cemetery.