Lenni Torma
July 30, 1916 — October 26, 2017
Lenni Arvid Torma died peacefully at home, in rural Wahpeton, ND on October 26, 2017.
Lenni was born in Vesijarvi, Finland to Franz and Selma (Korkiasalo) Hautaviita on July 30, 1916.
While working on a neighboring farm in Isojoki, Finland, he met Veino Fransiina Pihlaja and they were joined in marriage on December 27, 1936. They had seven children and operated a general/grocery store in Karjenkyla, Finland until Lenni served in the Finnish Army as a courier to the front lines during WW11. After the war they briefly operated a store in Puutikkala, Finland before moving to Isojoki, Finland.
In 1951 Lenni immigrated to Thunder Bay, Ont. Canada and his family the following year. There they owned a farm and he worked as a lumberjack.
In 1960 they immigrated to Alango, MN. Later they moved to Virginia, MN. During those years Lenni worked as a carpenter until he retired at age 62. He and Vieno moved to Lake Worth, FL, then back to Finland for one year, but decided to come back to USA and became US citizens in 1982. They built a new home in rural Grand Rapids, MN.
After the passing of his 1st wife Lenni married Heleena Eleanoora Hill on April 1, 1989. They lived in Grand Rapids and later in Virginia, MN. After the passing of his 2nd wife, Lenni moved into an apartment in Breckenridge, MN to be closer to family and in 2015 to his daughter’s home.
Lenni enjoyed walking, visiting and traveling to Scandinavia and throughout the US and Canada. He took great delight in visiting and sharing food with friends and family and we will all miss him so.
Lenni is survived by his sister-in-law Ellen Hautaviita, Kerava Finland; son-in-law Kalevi (Germaine) Kangas, Thunder Bay, Ont. Canada; son Pekka (Marilyn) Torma, Thunder Bay, Ont. Canada; son Tapani (Birgitta) Salonen, Vagnharad Sweden; daughter Vuokko (Voitto) Serala, Villamo Finland; daughter Tuula (John) Kube, Wahpeton ND; daughter-in-law Silja Torma, Loha Finland; stepson Ken (Kathy) Hill, Virginia MN; stepdaughter Ellen (Jim) Lassila, Virginia MN; stepdaughter Margie (Lyle) Vandervort, Virginia MN; 20 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.
Lenni was preceded in death by his parents, wives Vieno and Heleena, brothers Svante, Vaino, Eino and Niilo, sisters Tyyne and Lempi, children Marja Kangas, Simo Torma and Timo Torma, great grand children Oiva Alanko and Tabatha Torma.
A graveside memorial at the time of burial will be on 11/10/2017 at 2:30 pm at Harris Cemetery, 21175 River Road, Grand Rapids, MN. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.