Lempi E. Niemi

HURLEY, Wis. - Lempi E. Niemi, 96, of West Harding Road, Bessemer Township, Mich., died Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, in Hurley.

Lempi was born Feb. 3, 1918, in Ironwood Township, Mich., daughter of the late Isaac and Alma (Koskela) Suliin. Lempi attended Section 12 and McKinley schools in Ironwood Township. She and her husband, Reino, owned and operated the Niemi dairy farm in Bessemer Township.

Lempi was a leader of 4-H, teaching many young girls how to sew. A farmer, stay-at-home mom and homemaker, she enjoyed cooking, baking, needlework, sewing, watching sports (football, golf and horse racing) on TV, and playing cards with friends.

Everyone remembers her exceptional squeaky cheese and cardamon butterscotch biscuits. She loved to grow flowers, especially African violets. Always a ready babysitter, she loved playing games with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Having the family over for waffles, strawberries and whipping cream was her specialty, all the while being an inquisitive and active listener to our many stories.

She had been a member of the former Harding Home Extension Club and continued to belong to the Harding Community Club. Lempi was a member of Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer, where she was head of the Quilters Circle for many years and a member of the LCW.

On Oct. 8, 1938, she was married to Reino Niemi at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood by the Rev. Herman Matero. Reino preceded her in death on April 19, 1987.

Lempi is survived by three daughters, Sandra (Larry) Rowoldt, Nancy (David) Kauppi and Diana (Glenn) Nelson, all of Bessemer; seven grandchildren, Barbara (Mitch) Swanson, of Rockford, Ill., Anne-Marie (David) Kuchinski, of Rockford, Connie (Bridget O'Brien) Kauppi, of St. Paul, Minn., Naomi (Michael Korpela) Kauppi, of Bessemer, Emilie (Zachary) Braunel, of Hurley, Philip (Katherine Plack) Nelson, of Glendale Heights, Ill., and Catherine (Scott) Anchin, of Arlington, Va .; and 11 great-grandchildren, Abigail and Andrew Swanson, Gretchen, Sarah and Jonathan Kuchinski, David and Sean Korpela, Benjamin and Adelyn Braunel, and Elizabeth and Alexander Anchin. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Besides her parents and husband, Lempi was preceded in death by a son, Richard Neimi, at 18 months; brothers, Matt, Waino and Walter; and sisters, Jenny Trast and Helia Holm.

Funeral services will be held at Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Bill Jacobson will officiate. Lempi's family will receive relatives and friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday.

A luncheon will follow the service in the Kastman Hall of the church.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

Pallbearers will be Mitch Swanson, David Kuchinski, Michael Korpela, Zachary Braunel, Philip Nelson and Andrew Swanson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sharon Lutheran Church of Bessemer.

Range Funeral Service Inc. and the Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home of Bessemer are in charge of arrangements.