Viola Vivian (Rantanen) Salminen

Marquette / Munising / Chatham

Viola (Rantanen) Salminen, age 87 of Marquette, passed away at the Marquette County Care Facility in Ishpeming on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 surrounded by her family.  She was born in Forest Lake, Michigan on March 11, 1929 to the late Walter and Martha (Maki) Rantanen.  Viola graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in Munising in 1948 where she found her love of music playing the baritone horn.  Viola married the late Len A. Salminen on September 7, 1948 where they lived on a farm in Slapneck, Michigan with their five children.  She loved baking, canning, and spending time with her family.  Viola was a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Chatham.  She left for Marquette in 1969 to further her education.  Viola graduated from the D.J. Jacobetti Vocational Skills center completing the secretarial course in 1971.  She was the Skill’s Center registration clerk for 7 ½ years before working in the Mailroom for 13 years prior to retiring from NMU.  Viola worked on the election board in Marquette for many years.   She loved to travel with her companion, the late George Pete Rose.  Among their favorite places were Florida and California.  The light of her eye was her beloved Pomeranian dog, Precious.  Viola was grateful to friends, Patti and Steve Enright who helped her care for Precious in her later years.

She is survived by her five children – Lenny (Linda) Salminen of Sterling Heights, MI, Paul Salminen of Inverness, FL, Alan (Sarah) Salminen of Chatham, MI, Donna (Kurt) Billings of Ishpeming, MI, and Julie (Sam) Kohnert of Gladstone, MI; brothers – Elmer Rantanen of Munising and Ronald (Margo) Rantanen of Ishpeming, MI; 12 grandchildren – Bradley, Craig, Kristen, Nikki, Ryan, Becky, Holly, Lucas, Branden, Amber, Ashley, and Sammy; 9.5 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, close friends, and her childhood friend – Audrey Ireland of Grand Blanc, MI.  Viola was preceded in death by her parents, companion Pete Rose, former husband Len Salminen, and sister-in-law – Nancy Rantanen.

Services will be held on Monday, August 15, 2016 at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham.  Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Viola’s funeral service at 3:00 p.m.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham, Michigan.