Esther Laila Niemi Published Wednesday, April 26, 2006 1:49:01 PM Central Time Ironwood Daily globe IRONWOOD, Mich. -- Esther Laila Niemi, 88, of 920 E. Florence Street, Ironwood, died Monday, April 24, 2006, at Josephson Nursing Home in Ironwood. She was born on July 5, 1917 in Finland, daughter of the late Antti and Ester (Neuvosen) Villanen. She emigrated from Finland to San Francisco, in 1953. She lived in California for many years. On March 7, 1958, she was united in marriage to Wilbert W. Niemi in Las Vegas. They moved to Ironwood in 1984. Esther was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Ironwood. She also belonged to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. She is survived by her husband, Wilbert, Ironwood; one brother-in-law, Kaarlo (Laura) Niemi, Ironwood Township; three sisters-in-law, Tyyne Salonen and Vera Jo Jansson, both of Bessemer, and Julie Abramson, Ironwood Township; and numerous nephews and nieces. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, Arne Villanen. A funeral service will be held Friday, April 28, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood. The Rev. Francis J. Strong will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. until the service at the church. Burial will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township. Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood. |