Thelma Halonen 1929 – 2023

Thelma Marian (Haataja) Halonen, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023, eight days shy of her 94th birthday, at her home in Cokato, MN. She was born March 4, 1929, the youngest child of Gustav Herman and Anna Gustava (Komulainen) Haataja.
Thelma was a lifelong member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. She graduated from Menahga High School in 1947 and then Bemidji State University, with a teaching degree. Thelma taught at Glasgow, Gunnery, and Sakkinen schools.
On March 10, 1951, she was united in marriage to Frederick Elmer Halonen. They were blessed with 13 children. They resided in Wolf Lake and Cokato.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; three sons: infant Anthony-1959, Brent-1988, and Blair-2019, son-in-law Ronald Corbin; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; her siblings: Carl (Hilda), Edna (Jack) Ylitalo, Helen (Ernest) Matsen, Hugo (Edna), Uno (Roberta), infant Walter, Eino Rudolph (Jennie), Olga (Eino) Johnson, Ernest (Doreen, Yvonne), Albert (Beatrice), and infant Arthur; parents-in-law: Charles (Anna Jurmu) and Tyyne Halonen; and 15 brothers and sisters-in-law.
Thelma is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Frederick Halonen; her children: Peter (Debra) of Cokato, John (Becky) ofCokato, Tyyni (Duane) Salmen of Osage, Thea Corbin of Cokato, Gregg (Suzanne) of Cokato, Tamara (Jeffrey) Pietila of Chassell, MI, Teresa (Kenneth) Johnson of Sedar Bay, MI, Anna (Dave) Aho of Cokato, Avis (Eric) Sheffer of Fenton, MI, Scott (Kathleen) of Cokato; daughters-in-law: Kristin Halonen of Cokato, Julie (Arvi) Impola of Calumet, MI; 101 grandchildren; 246 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren; 11 brothers and sisters-in-law; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on February 28 at 1st Apostolic Lutheran Church in Dassel. Interment at Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
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