Albert Kurtti, 89 of Paynesville passed away Feb 20, 2010 atA the Omega House hospice facility in Houghton, where he had been a resident for one day, after an illness of less than one week.

A Born October 4, 1920, a twin son of John and Johanna (Kallunki) Kurtti, Albert lived his entire life in his childhood home, learning from very early childhood the dignity of hard work.A He attended the Paynesville School.

A In Nov 1942 he was inducted into the U.S. Army, serving during WWII in France and Germany as a lineman.A

A After the war he returned to Paynesville, where he was employed as a dairy farmer and logger, and along side his parents and brothers worked the family farm, which was purchased 100 years ago this May.

A From 1954-1981 he was also employed at the White Pine Copper Mine.A After quitting dairy farming in 1970, Albert raised beef cattle,A which he continued to do into his 87th year.A His farm also played host to a variety of dogs, cats, fishA and horses, as well as many wild animals and birds which he fed.A

A Albert was raised in the Apostolic Lutheran faith and was a member of the Henry A. Holappa Post 9345 of the VFW in Bruce Crossing.

A He was a quiet, unassuming man, but generous to a fault.A He particularly enjoyed sharing his hay-raised registered black angus beef, which he presented to his guests when it was time to leave. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.A

A In 1980 Albert married Marilyn Laakso, with whom he shared his life until her passing in 2002.A He was also preceded in death by his parents, four sisters Sigrid (Siiri) Jurmu, SylviaA Cumming, Millie (Milma) Lelvis and Irene Hazen, and four brothers Waino, Aale, Norman and Wesley.

A He is survived by a brother Reuben Kurtti, of Portland, Oregon; sixteen nieces and nephews and numerous cousins in the U.S. and Finland.

A Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 27th at the Bruce Crossing Apostolic Lutheran Church at 11 am. with Pastor Arvo Onermaa officiating with visitation one half hour before the servcie.

A burial service, including military rites,A is set for May 9th, the 100th anniversary of Albert's parent purchasing land in Paynesville.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family suggests donations to the Bruce Crossing Apostolic Lutheran Church or the Finnish American Reporter in Hancock.