DONALD O. LEHTO's Obituary
Donald O. Lehto, 98, of Baraga, passed away at the home of his birth on Gristmill Rd, Thursday, July 12, 2012. He was born during the great blizzard of 1913 on November 8, the son of the late Tapani and Maria Ida (Ristimaki) Lehto. Don graduated from Baraga High School in 1931. On August 30, 1940 he married the former Esther Ala in Pelkie. She preceded him in death on March 15, 2011. Don worked on the family dairy farm, and operated the Lehto Greenhouse. In addition to operating the family farm he worked for Northern Gas for 26 years. He was a member of Mission United Lutheran Church, Pelkie. In 1985 he and Esther were crowned King and Queen of the the Lumberjack Days. Don enjoyed hunting, camping, and was an oral historian.
Mr. Lehto is survived by his sons Jack (Lynn) Lehto of Baraga, and Dave (Debra) Lehto of Baraga, daughters Barbara (Robert) Davio of Lewiston, MI, Jean (Bruce) Laity of Las Vegas, NV, Mary (Larry) Rizak of White Lake, MI, and Kay Lehto of Las Vegas, NV, grandchildren Maryann, Scott, Laura, Mark, Lisa, Aaron, Katrina, Steven, and Megan, 8 great grandchildren, and sister Toini Kesti, of E. Lansing. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members also survive. He was preceded in death by his sister Helen, and his brother Rudy.
A memorial funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2012 from Mission United Lutheran Church, Pelkie with Pastor John Autio officiating. Interment took place in the Pelkie Cemetery. The family received friends at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
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