Cover photo for Lillian Martha (Laakso)  Anttila's Obituary
Lillian Martha (Laakso)  Anttila Profile Photo
1924 Lillian 2018

Lillian Martha (Laakso) Anttila

May 8, 1924 — January 29, 2018

Limestone

Lillian Martha Anttila, age 93, of Limestone, died late Monday morning, January 29, 2018 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising.  She was born on May 8, 1924 in Gwinn, Michigan, one of eight children to Finnish immigrants Isaac and Kustava (Hakkola) Laakso.  Lillian grew up on the family farm in Eben.  She helped on the farm and assisted her father with the English and Finnish language barrier on dairy and meat deliveries.  Lillian graduated from Eben High School in 1942.  After school, she moved to Detroit and worked in a bakery.  To the surprise of her parents, Lillian hopped on the train from Detroit to Long Beach, California to meet up with and marry her U.S. Army Air Corps serviceman, Harold Anttila.  Lillian and Harold were married in Long Beach on February 6, 1943.   They remained in California where Harold was stationed until after WWII and they moved back home to Eben.  They raised their four children in Limestone where they owned and operated Anttila’s Grocery Store and the Limestone Post Office out of their home.  Between Harold’s working for the Alger County Road Commission, Lillian running the post office, and raising their family, they decided to close the store.  Lillian continued as Postmaster for over thirty years.  Lillian enjoyed walking, riding bikes, playing cards, and bowling on a league with her friends.   She was a member of the Eben Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church, the Home Extension Club, and the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary where she was active with various activities.  Lillian and Harold enjoyed taking picnics as a family and travelling together to visit family members.   They were married over seventy years when Harold preceded her in death on August 5, 2013.

Lillian is survived by her four children – Cheryl Maki of Limestone, MI, Gary Anttila of Pembine, WI, Rhonda (Allen) Bossom of Eben Junction, MI, and Janice (William) Chasteen of Gillette, WY; eight grandchildren – Amy (Gary) Artley, John (Angela) Maki, Sara Nicholls (Mark Armstrong), Jeffrey Bossom, Shelley Bossom (Fred Rye), John C. (Rochelle) Anttila, William Chasteen (Karissa Morris), and Robert Chasteen (Amber Worthington); nine great-grandchildren – Hunter, Lacey A., Kaden, Lacey K., Logan, Hadley, Dakota, Colter, and Talon; one great-great grandchild on the way; and many special nephews and nieces.   Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harold, grandson Adam Maki, sister Velma Smith, brothers Art, Arvo, Ferdinand, Tauno, George, and Leslie Laakso, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Services will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018 at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.   Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Lillian’s funeral service at 2:00 p.m.   Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lillian Martha (Laakso) Anttila, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, February 2, 2018

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, February 2, 2018

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Graveside Service

Friday, June 1, 2018

Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 22

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree