Millie Ellen Siltala

Ellen “Millie” Mildred (Savela) Siltala, age 97, of Sebeka, MN was called to her eternal rest on February 18, 2022 at Providence Villa in Sebeka. On August 28, 1924, Millie was born in a 3 room house in Blowers Township, Ottertail County, near Sebeka, to Edward & Hilda (Salo) Savela. Millie grew up on a farm and was her father’s right hand. She even learned to drive their Model T at a young age. Millie attended Haycreek country school thru grade 8, and she loved to tell stories of her country school days. She lived within a half mile of her birthplace for most of her life. The sun was shining brightly on the longest day of the year, June 21, 1941, when Millie was united in marriage to Ervin Siltala. They loved to spend time together as much as they could. Millie would often go along with him when he drove cattle to the stockyards in St. Paul. Sometimes she even drove the loaded cattle truck. She spoke fondly of those years. Millie and Ervin began building their life together and purchased their first farm, “Meyers place,” where David and Dan were born. They sold the farm and purchased a larger farm where Dick and Kay were born. This farm happened to have the highest barn in the area at the time. They were also the first to have an indoor bathroom, as they added indoor plumbing to that house. They spent four years away living on the Iron Range before returning home. After years of hard work and saving, they were able to build a new home in 1964. One thing Millie also did to earn extra money was to plant pickles and bring them into town to sell. She often said, “I picked pickles for that,” referring to a piece of furniture she owned. In 1977, Ervin passed away, leaving Millie a widow at age 52. She worked as waitress for many years at the café in Sebeka, where she always had the biggest smile on her face and greeted everyone by name. In her later years she was employed by Johnson and Son Well Drilling. Millie was a member of the Laestadian Lutheran Church. In her free time, Millie enjoyed gardening, reading, word search puzzles, raising chickens, listening to music, evening walks, watching birds, and shooting at squirrels when they tried to bother the birds at the feeders. She had a great love for classic cars and motorcycles. She drove her scooter down the country roads every chance she got. Her greatest joy was spending time and sharing stories of her past with her children and grandchildren. Millie is survived by sons Daniel (Carol) Siltala of Cokato, MN, Dick Siltala of Sebeka, MN, and daughter Kay (Ernie) Kreklau of Sebeka; 21 grandchildren, 156 great grandchildren and 36 great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Shirley Savela, Laura Savela, Dagmar Siltala, Inez Seppala and brother-in-law Stan Niskanen. She was preceded in death by her husband Ervin, son David Siltala and his wife Gloria, daughter-in-law Sharon Siltala, 1 grandchild, 3 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, her parents, sisters Melba Niska and Audrey Samuelson, brothers Harley, Roland and an infant brother. Private Funeral Service.