Marion Mikkanen

Marion Mikkanen, 91, of Mahnomen went to her home in heaven on February 18, 2019.   A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 23, at 1:30pm at the David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be held 30min prior to the service.

Marion was born on October 1, 1927, to Howard and Mae (Klein) Davis in Minneapolis, MN.  During Marion’s high school years she lived with her Aunt Dora and Uncle Jent, cousins Doug, Harold, and Ralph Nichols.  She loved the Nichols family and spent many wonderful years on their farm.  Marion graduated from Galesville, WI, High School with the class of 1946.  She was united in marriage to Eino (Mick) Mikkanen on September 26, 1953. The couple lived in the Minneapolis, Des Plaines, IL and Gainesville, WI, areas until their retirement in 1981.  After retiring, the couple made their home at Strawberry Lake, in Ogema, MN.  Marion was very active, she belonged to the Senior Citizens of White Earth, Strawberry Lake card club, Young At Heart Homemakers club, Lund Bible study and the Mehtajarvi Finn Club. For many years Marion looked forward to going to the We-Fest and collecting pins for her cowgirl hat.

After Mick passed away, Marion lived at the Biimaadiiziiwiin (safe living) in White Earth for about ten years.  She was the bingo caller, treasure of the resident activities and was the prime gardener. She loved feeding her numerous hummingbirds.  For the past year and a half, Marion lived happily at the Mahnomen Health Center where she received excellent and loving care.

Marion is survived by godchild Penny (Nichols) Schubert, several cousins, nieces: Norma Jean Bakka, Linda Blackwood, Merry Keith, Kris Young and Kathy Gorrell, great-nieces; Shelley (Dennis) Ceglar, Sharon Bakka and Nancy (Wade) Gordon and many other extended family; and special friend Kay Luasmann.

Marion was preceded in death by her husband Eino Mikkanen, parents: Howard and Mae Davis, sister: Barbara Haffey, brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Axel and Elma Bakka and nephew Clem Bakka.