Obituary of Helmi Ilona Lammi

Helmi Ilona Lammi, 83, Proctor, died Thursday, May 8, 2003 in her home. She was born January 15, 1920 in Tamarack, MN to Uno and Mary Josephine (Rinta) Lake. She was raised in Salo Township and attended the Rice Lake School grades 1-8 and graduated from McGregor High School in 1937. Helmi married Floyd Gust Lammi on December 18, 1949. Helmi worked for the Co-op Publishing Association in Superior as a reporter, translator and public relations director; at the Range Co-op Federation in Virginia as public relations director and at the Co-op Summer Camp at Arrowhead Lake as camp youth and adult counselor. After starting a family, she helped found United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Duluth and served for a total of 40 years in many positions including president and executive director for 20 years. During this time she also earned a BS degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. She was President of the Board of Directors for Redruth Valley, which built a barrier free assisted living facility for handicapped persons, the first of its kind in the area. She served as Finnish language instructor in the Proctor community schools. She was a member of Forbes United Methodist Church. Helmi sang in the Jarvenpaa Chorus, was a member of the Finnish American Historical Society and a member and officer of Zonta. Helmi was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Kay Lammi; a brother, William F. Lake and a sister, Hilma Lake. She is survived by her husband, Floyd G. Lammi of Proctor; two sons, Vic (Priscilla Stanley) of Denver, NC and Ted (Barb) of Cloquet; four grandchildren, Alexander Lammi of Colorado Springs, CO, Aaron Lammi and Maria Lammi, both of Cloquet and Mary Claire Stanley of Denver, NC; a sister-in-law, Ruth English of Cloquet; a nephew, David (Sharon) Lake of Tamarack and their children, Robin and Eric. Visitation will be Sunday, May 11, 2003 from 5 - 7 p.m. in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet. Visitation will continue Monday, May 12, 2003, from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service in Forbes United Methodist Church, 33 Grove Street, Proctor. Memorials are preferred to the United Cerebral Palsy of MN, 1821 University Avenue W. Suite 219S, St. Paul, MN 55104. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.