Eleanore Helvi Hyvonen Martinson

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Eleanore Helvi Hyvonen Martinson, 94, of Wakefield, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014.

She was born on June 9, 1920, to Hugo William and Marie Sivia (Siren) Hyvonen, two Finnish immigrants, who raised her in the mining community of Palms Location, Bessemer, among those of many nationalities whom she called "The Gentle People."

Eleanore attended Tilden School, Washington Elementary School and A.D. Johnston High School and graduated in 1938. She graduated from Ironwood Junior College in 1940 with a double major in education and secretarial studies. After graduation, she worked for Lake Superior District Power Company until her marriage to Walfred Erick Martinson on Aug. 2, 1941. They moved to their country home in Wakefield, where they lived until their deaths.

Always interested in learning, Eleanore seized every opportunity to learn new things from being the second woman in Gogebic County to take flying lessons (1940), to continuing her education through her junior year of college, to taking numerous classes throughout her life.

She achieved her dream of being a teacher by working as a short- and long-term substitute teacher in area schools. Eleanore served 12 years as a member of the Board of Education of the Wakefield Area Schools and 18 years on the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees.

She served her community in many other ways. During World War II, Eleanore sold war bonds and took night shift sittings in the copula of the Wakefield City Hall to watch for enemy planes that might be attacking the iron mines.

Always the educator, she served as officer of the PTA in Wakefield and was co-founder of the PTA Christmas Fair. Eleanore was a 4-H leader for more than 10 years.

Eleanore was above all a homemaker and mother. She sewed, knitted, crocheted and made many different craft items. Eleanore gardened, raised animals, fished and made wood with Wally. She was an excellent cook, canner and baker and enjoyed fussing for holidays.

Her family especially remembers with fondness her pasties and the cardamom wreath biscuit she made for every special occasion.

Eleanore was Gogebic County Fair Homemaker of the Year in 1991 and 2005.

Eleanore is survived by four daughters: Carol (David) Anderson, Grand Rapids, (children, Sarah and Steven); Shirley (Jim) Carpenedo, Bessemer, (children, Susan and Karen); Marla Martinson (George Karageorge), Marquette, (children, Loren, Nathan and Bethany); and Arlene (John) Underwood, Eden Prairie, Minn., (children, Nicholas, Emily, Sally, Erick, Amy and Julie); nine great-grandchildren; and nine nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wally, in 2001; two brothers, Johan, in infancy and Howard Hyvonen; and all of her brothers- and sisters-in-law.

A funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m., at the Lakeside Memorial Chapel in Wakefield, with Dr. Neal J. Schroeter officiating.

Interment will take place at a later date in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 86, Ironwood MI 49938 in Eleanore's memory.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lakeside Memorial Chapel, Wakefield, Jerald Rocco, owner-manager. Condolences may be sent online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.