Mikael (Mike) YliniemiLydia Yliniemi Kangas
B: 7-19-1930 D: 5-27-75 Married: 10-31-1953 to Donald (Sonny) Kangas in Chicago, IL Lillian Yliniemi Tuomala B: 12-01-1931 D: 05-18-99 Married: 1-31-1953 to Arthur Tuomala from Rolla, ND Delores Yliniemi Gottsman, Detroit Lakes, MN B: 4-11-35 Married 6-26-54 to Donald Gottsman from Dorset, MN . . | Mike was born September 26, 1894 in French Lake, MN. Died November 15, 1969 in Park Rapids, MN. He married Ellen Barlund (B: 8-9-11 D: 11-20-88) on September 20, 1929.
Mike served in the army for thirteen months during World War I. Mike and Ellen were married in New York Mills with Ethel Yliniemi and William (Bill) Yliniemi as their attendants. After living with his parents for a year, they purchased a farm five miles south and lived there for 30 years. At that time they sold the farm and moved to a home in Menahga, MN. Ellen moved to Detroit Lakes in 1984 and lived there until her death in 1988. Verniel Yliniemi Latto writes about Uncle Mike: Mike and my dad Joe went to the west coast together and worked in the lumber camps. They seemed to have a close relationship. Mike was more serious, and quieter, and yet there was that same Yliniemi grin, and twinkle in his brown eyes. I don't recall any special incident, with him alone, but he was comfortable to be around. There was quiet strength about him. I remember his wife Ellen and how patient she was with him, when he was losing his memory. He would ask her a question, or open a discussion which they had just discussed 10-15 mins. previously, for the umpteenth time. Ellen would answer him, or discussing the subject again, as if it was the very first time he had brought up the subject! I pray that I can show such patients with people, but I'm afraid I fall far short! Pat Yliniemi Ervasti Bertha Minnesota USA Sun Feb 27 22:10:41 CST 2000 Uncle Mike and Aunt Ellen were my very favorite aunt and uncle. Their children were all grown up and gone and I can remember some wonderful times of visiting them both on the farm and in Menahga. My dad and I went to visit them when I was a little girl and Aunt Ellen showed me a hanging she had made and asked me if I wanted to make one for a surprise for my mother and we worked on it together and I had a wonderful Mother's Day gift for my mom that I had made for her. Later when both my parents and Mike and Ellen lived in Menahga, I went to there house after school and asked Aunt Ellen if she would help me sew a bathrobe for my mother for Christmas. I ordered the material from the catalog and when it came I took it to their house and we cut it out together. My mom was so pleased with her Christmas gift and my Aunt Ellen was so loved because she helped me do that. When I was a little girl we went on vacation to see the International Peace Gardens with Mike and Ellen. Aunt Ellen taught me how to make paper rings and paper airplanes out of gum wrappers and taught me to look for the "coffee pots" in each town (the water towers). She helped make the long drive fun. After Mike and Ellen sold their farm, they went to Florida. I was very happy when they came back (they decided not to live there) and they lived with us for awhile before they moved to Menahga. Uncle Mike showed me how to put letters in the mailbox (leaning against the side of the box...so it would be easy for the mailman to reach in and get them. I still make sure to prop my letters so my mailman will have an easy time when he reaches in to get them. Uncle Mike would never let me dry the dishes..in fact, once in Menahga I sort of insisted on it and he said I could wash them if I wanted but wiping dishes was his job..so we used to do them together for Aunt Ellen. They both were a blessing in my life and thank God for them. When I was in the HoOne of my last memories of my parents and Mike and Ellen being all together was when I was in the Homecoming parade as an attendent in Menahga and the car going by my house and sitting on the porch waving to me were 4 people that I loved very much..I was happy to see them. My mom often said they were my second pair of parents when I was young. Aunt Ellen seemed very pleased when I asked how to spell Mike's name as my second son is named Paul Mikael and I was very happy when he and his wife named their son Mikael Ervasti. Aunt Ellen called to check up on me after my mother died..just to make sure I was coping all right. It was very hard to lose Uncle Mike so close to losing Dad and it was hard to lose Aunt Ellen, Ellen Laitinen and Mom so close together...but what a blessing to have had their love. |