Miriam Margaret Hay, 80, of Ray, Mn., passed away Oct. 15, 2009 at the Falls Good Samaritan Center in International Falls, Mna. after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born Nov. 18, 1928 in Fort Frances, Ont. to August and Helvi Kivimaki.
The former Miriam Kivimaki was united in marriage to James Edwin Hay on April 24, 1956.
Miriam worked in the accounting department for the Fort Frances paper mill from 1947-56, and then worked for the Mando paper mill in International Falls from 1956-65.
She also was the financial secretary for Zion Lutheran Church for 25 years, and volunteered with the auxiliary at Falls Memorial Hospital in International Falls.
Miriam and James purchased Watson’s General Store in Ray in 1972. Miriam retired from Hay’s General Store in 2002.
She was predeceased by her parents and husband.
Survivors include her children, Lori (Svein) Aasen of Norway, Brenda (Gregg) Herzig of Duluth, Mn., and David (Lisa) Hay of Ray, Mn.; grandchildren, Lindsey and Lisbeth Aasen, Chelsey and Mackenzie Herzig, and Cole and Mason Hay; and brothers, Edwin (Vivian Callaghan) Kivimaki and Larry (JoAnne) Kivimaki, and their families, all of Fort Frances, Ont.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in International Falls.
Interment will be in the Ray Cemetery in Ray.
If so desired, in memoriam donations would be preferred to the SMDC Oncology Department, 407 East Third St., Duluth, Mn., 55805.
Condolences may be offered at www.greenlarsen.com
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
