Services: Thursday, September 14, 1 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church

Visitation: Thursday, September 14, 11 a.m. until time of Service, Immanuel Lutheran Church

Helen Mildred Laakso, 83, of Mount Pleasant - formerly of Chatham – passed away on Sunday, September 10, 2006 at the Mount Pleasant Medical Care Facility in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 1:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 320 S Bradley, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Pastor Mark Behenna will officiate. The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 AM until time of service at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Chatham, MI.

Helen M. Laakso was born February 26, 1923 in Maynard, Massachusetts to Ida Katherine Seppala Laakso and Emil Sakri Laakso. Her parents moved the family to Michigan and settled in Rumely where Helen attended school.

Helen was employed by Cadillac Motors and by Mt. Carmel Hospital in Detroit. She worked for H.W. Gossard in Gwinn and for Marquette Steam Laundry in Marquette. Helen retired from the Chatham Cooperative Store in Chatham, MI.

Helen attended the Eastwood Apostolic Lutheran Church in Negaunee. After moving to Mount Pleasant, she attended Immanuel Lutheran Church. Helen was an avid flower gardener. She also enjoyed watercolor painting, antiquing, and writing poetry.

Helen is survived by one niece, Candace (Wayne) Ingalls of Eben Jct.; three nephews, Mark (Joann) Johnson of Mt. Pleasant, Loren (Pati) Salmi of Eben Jct., and Daren (Jana) Salmi of Eben Jct.; three great nieces, Mandy Salmi of Marquette, Heidi (Chad) Zutter of Baden, PA, and Hope Johnson of Arlington, VA; great nephew, Kole Salmi of Eben Jct., MI., and great, great nephew Logan Zutter of Baden, PA.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Charles, George, and Waino Laakso of Rumely and four sisters: Ingrid Laakso of Rumely, Wilma (Axel) Johnson of Chatham, Edith Laakso of Rumely, and Martha (Eugene) Salmi of Eben Jct., MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Michigan or to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Memorials: Hospice of Central Michigan or to Immanuel Lutheran Church

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable (Map)

Location: Clark Funeral Chapel (Map)

Church: Immanuel Lutheran Church (Map)

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