Martha Josephine Rahkola

Martha Josephine (Himanka) Rahkola, 91, of Esko passed away Thursday, October 7, 2010 at home surrounded by her family. Martha was born on June 20, 1919 to Sanfrid and Hilma (Lastikka) Himanka in Kalajoki, Finland. The family came to the United States in December 1952. Martha was a loving, compassionate and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her family was her life and she enjoyed having them all around her and looked forward to the holidays when they would all be there. She took pride in cooking and making sure there was plenty of food for everyone and anyone who happened to stop by. Her priority was making sure everyone had homemade bread and pulla. She taught her sons to bake bread and pulla. She was a very social person and enjoyed having company. Father and mother enjoyed fishing when they still were in good health and spent the winters in Lantana, Florida. She was a member of the Ladies of Kaleva Vainottaren Tupa. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frans in 1996; an infant daughter, Anja; a sister Aune; and a brother Vilho. She is survived by her children; Aulie (Herbert) Kamunen, Eira Bridges, John (Charlene) Rahkola, Oili (Raymond) Hegge, Urho (Pamela) Rahkola, Jorma (Debra) Rahkola, and Olli (Katherine) Rahkola; grandchildren; Dale (Debbie) Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Leila Kamunen, Debbie (Rod) Davis, David (Sue) Kamunen, Anneli Bridges, Dylan Bridges, Bonnie (Bruce) Jarvis, Reijo (Leigh) Rahkola, Rauha (Sarah) Rahkola, Seija Rahkola, Jeremy Rahkola, Jeffrey (Kristy) Rahkola, Jonathan Rahkola, Matthew and Timothy Rahkola; 24 great grandchildren; 5 great geat grandchildren; two sisters; Veera Torniainen of Cloquet, and Aili Koskinen of Stockholm, Sweden; brother Veikko Himanka of Cloquet; and special friend Hannu Putkuri. Funeral services were held on Monday, October 11, 2010 in Apostolic Lutheran Church in Esko. Burial was in Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Ladies of Kaleva scholarship fund at 28 Martha Rd, Esko, MN 55733. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and leave an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com