Elsie R. Lehtinen

Elsie Lehtinen passed away on August 5, 2025, at Essentia Northern Pines Nursing Home in Aurora, Minnesota. She was born on June 8, 1924, and lived to celebrate her 101st birthday.

She was born in Palo, Minnesota, in a house that her father built. Her parents were Matt and Elina (Autio) Raihala, both immigrants from Finland. She was the youngest of four children, with older brothers William, Arthur, and George.

Elsie’s father died while she was in high school. Her mother, like Elsie, was blessed with longevity, spending most of her 90 years in a house where she chopped her own firewood and pumped her own water. Elsie was the valedictorian of her high school class.

Elsie married Edward Lehtinen of Palo, and together they had five children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. They operated a dairy farm in Palo. Elsie also served as a mail carrier delivery person on a rural route.

Elsie was very active in her church, serving as an officer for many years and participating in the church quilting group which she enjoyed. She was also active in the community, serving as a leader of the Loon Lake 4-H Club, an active member of the local gardening club and the Eastern Star, and a regular Walkie Talkie attendee.

In her retirement, Elsie enjoyed travelling. She attended Elderhostel educational adventures in Hawaii and California. She enjoyed seeing Finland to celebrate her 70th birthday, including her parents’ hometowns. Elsie ventured to see family all over the United States, even travelling to North Carolina, Arizona, and Kentucky in her 95th year. She would have continued travelling, had Covid not arisen.

A couple of days before Elsie passed, she said, “If you feel good, it doesn’t matter how old you are”.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, her husband, and her son, Thomas. She is survived by her son Harold (Eileen), daughter Joan (Robert), daughter Nancy, son Michael (Larry), and daughter-in-law Judy, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Thanks to Essentia Health Northern Pines Nursing Home and Essentia Health Hospice for their love and assistance in this last chapter of Elsie’s life.

The funeral will be on Monday, August 11, 11:00 am, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 302 South 2nd St East, Aurora, MN, 55705. The visitation will be Sunday, August 10, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at Ziemer-Moeglen-Shatava Funeral Home, 402 West 3rd Ave North, Aurora and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Memorials may be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.