Elizabeth Anna Rajala

Elizabeth Anna Rajala, age 97, of Munising, died on Monday morning, April 28, 2025 at the Harbour View Assisted Living in Munising. Elizabeth was born at the Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois on October 11, 1927 to William and Elma (Potter) Bakewell. She graduated from Plainfield High School in 1945. After graduation Elizabeth and her parents moved to Dukes, MI. She attended Northern Michigan College and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. She married Waino O. Rajala on February 12, 1949 at the family farm in Dukes. The couple took a three-month honeymoon traveling the U.S. in their Dodge camper. Elizabeth and Waino raised their three daughters in Dukes. She taught at Fisher Elementary School and Skandia Consolidated Schools for twenty-three years. Elizabeth was a member of the first graduating master’s class in education from Northern Michigan University. The family raised polled herefords on the farm and she and Waino enjoyed traveling. They were married over thirty-eight years when he preceded her in death on March 15, 1987. After his death, Elizabeth continued to travel and was proud of traveling to every state and all seven continents. Elizabeth traveled to Africa at the age of 69 to teach and live with a missionary family in the French Congo. She left days before civil war broke out there. Elizabeth was active in the Farm Bureau, the 4H program and as a leader, an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Eben, the Senior Center, Friends of the Munising Library, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She also enjoyed gardening. In 2001, Elizabeth moved to Munising. She published her father’s memoirs in “The American on the Endurance - Ice, Seas, and Terra Firma Adventures of William L. Bakewell” which recalled his memories of his time on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1916. Elizabeth was proud of her family’s history and spoke at many groups and schools. Elizabeth will be remembered as an intelligent and hardworking woman, who was not afraid to share her opinion but someone with a generous heart.

She is survived by her three daughters – Sarah (James Aanstoos) Rajala of Cary, NC, Mary Elizabeth (John) Severson of Munising, and Nina (John St. Martin) Rajala of Munising; grandchildren – Kristen Aanstoos, Stephanie (Theo) Sullivan, Zackery Serverson, Lance Severson, Lauren (Matt) Curtis and, Jon St. Martin; great-grandchildren – Easton, Austin, Ella, Emmy, Nick, Emily, and Reece who is due any day; nieces – Sandra (Lewis) Ingalls and Sylvia Gauthier; and great nephew – David Gauthier.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Waino, and sisters-in-law – Aune (Aimo) Jurinen and Bertha (Henry) Elo.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Pastor Tom Schierkolk will conduct Elizabeth’s service at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home’s chapel. Interment will be at the Emmanual Lutheran Cemetery in Skandia. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to be directed to the Alger County Animal Shelter, Calvary Free Lutheran Church, or Bay Cliff in her name.