Katherine Marie Nousiainen

Katherine Marie (Lehto) Nousiainen passed away peacefully at her home Monday, December 13, 2021, she was 84. Katherine was born in Bruce Crossing on Mother's Day, May 9, 1937, to Peter Lehto and Mary (Pelkola) Lehto.

She grew up on a farm in Haight Township on Tanland Lake Road. Being the oldest of three kids, she often told the story of how she had to skid tie-cuts for her father, with the horses and do barn chores (dairy cattle). Upon graduating from Ewen High School in 1955, she made her way downstate to Jackson to seek employment. Her Aunt and Uncle Eileen and Paul Kallio were kind enough to take her in. She was hired in the office at Kentmoore Corp. on S. Jackson St. Shortly thereafter, she met her future husband Bob Nousiainen. They were married at the Watersmeet Baptist Church on August 3, 1957 with Pastor Turkey.

They lived in Jackson until 1960, and then moved to Bruce Crossing, purchased a non working farm and Bob went to work at White Pine Copper Mine.

Kathy and Bob are long time members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Paynesville, led by Pastor Kay Richter. After the children were raised, she worked at Tulppo's Restaurant and then seventeen years at Nordine Food Land.

Every summer Kathy and Bob went on long vacation trips with the kids, like in 1967 to Washington DC and New England. They traveled to Pennsylvania to visit brother Gordon and Barb, and to Idaho to see brother Bill and family. They traveled by car for twenty one years to Florida during the winter months, and spent time with Al and Cora Niemi, and son Steve and family. She also traveled to Europe with her sister Cora and girls. She was a member of the Crossroad Senior Citizen Club, and long time member in-good-standing of the Order Of Eastern Star, L'Anse Chapter. Kathy bowled in league for many seasons, highlighted by taking the Championship Trophy on one of those years. She loved to play Bingo, most recently at the Senior Citizen Club in Ewen. She loved the home cooked meals along with socializing there. Kathy and Bob did a lot of camping, pulling their Air Stream to Florida and spend time with good friends Bob and Helen Carter. Kathy was a great cook and had every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at her house for about fifty years. Her coffee pot was always on for whoever might stop by. She absolutely loved her kids, grandkids and great grand children. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The family would like to thank everyone who was ever so kind to her during her battle with cancer.

Katherine is survived by her husband Bob, children Roberta (Greg) Hammond, Steven (Angie) Nousiainen, Michael Nousiainen and Shelly Sironen (Dennis Fleming). She is further survived by twelve grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren, sister Cora Niemi, brother Andy (Debbie) Lehto, and numerous nieces, nephews, great niece Hannah, cousins and sister in laws Alberta and Barbara. 

She is preceded in death by her father Pete, mother Mary, step father Arne Piirto, brother in laws Al Niemi,  LLoyd Nousiainen, Ron Nousiainen, Gordon Nousiainen, Bill Nousiainen and daughter in law Maria Nousiainen.

At Kathy's request, cremation has taken place and a grave side service at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Bruce Crossing will be held on Monday May 9, 2022 at 11:00am, with Pastor Kay Richter. A get together at Twilly's will follow.

Cane Funeral Home- Bruce Crossing Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

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