Lila Hangartner

Lila Ellen Hangartner(nee Kalander), 102, of Finland, died Thursday, October 27, 2016 at Carefree Living in Silver Bay.

Lila was born on April 6, 1914 to Toivo and Edla (Harju) Kalander in a log home in Finland.  She married John Hangartner in 1937.  In 1941, she and John bought a small home on 5 acres of land in Finland from her childhood neighbor Oscar West for $ 100.  Lila enjoyed outdoor activities, reading, sewing, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles.  Lila worked at the Finland Co-Op for many years.  She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Finland MN Historical Society.  Her story is part of the FMHS local families exhibit and some of her memories were also compiled into the booklet “Lila Stories” by her friend Jan Kent.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; sisters, Sophie Nikula and Mary Nikolai.

Lila is survived by her daughters Jean Cook of West Olive, MI, Bette (John) Pounds of Boerne, TX, and Diane (Eric) Lindberg of Finland; her sister, Ruth Himes of Finland; 7 grandchildren, Kenneth Cook, Laurie Lohstroh, Deborah VanderZwaag, Kathy Miller, Michael and Kevin Pounds, and Julie Arnold; 14 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Lila’s family wishes to thank the staffs at Barross House and Carefree Living Center for their care and family members and friends for their visits.

Services are planned for 11 AM on June 10,2017 at the new Baptism River Community Church.