Helen Ruth Seppala, age 90, of Gladstone, passed away Tuesday morning, November 16, 2021 at Christian Park Healthcare Center in Escanaba. She was born on December 5, 1930 at home in Rock, MI, the daughter of Kalle Richard and Hilda Selina (Huttula) Salminen. On May 12, 1931, she was Baptized into her Christian Faith at the Finnish Lutheran Church in Rock. Helen Ruth was raised and attended school in Rock. The former Helen Ruth Salminen married Emil O. Seppala on September 10, 1949 at Faith Lutheran Church in Rock and he preceded her in death on October 18, 1995. Together, the couple shared 46 years of marriage and raised one daughter, Cynthia. Shortly after Helen Ruth and Emil were married, they moved from Rock to Detroit, MI in 1950 and lived there for a few months before moving back to Rock. The couple then moved to Escanaba, then Flat Rock, and eventually moved back to Detroit until their retirement. Following retirement, Helen Ruth and Emil moved to back to the U.P. and resided in Gladstone. Helen Ruth was very proud of her Finnish heritage and was a charter member of the Finnish Center Association in the Detroit area. She also was a member of First Lutheran Church in Gladstone. Helen Ruth enjoyed working on crafts, needle point, and cross stitch. She also loved sending and receiving cards. A little unknown fact of Helen Ruth, during WWII she was willing to help in any way could. Unfortunately, that time did not come until she was able to help be a nurse to her husband – who was a Purple Heart Recipient – during his final years of life.
Helen Ruth is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Marie (Robert) Zimmerman of Leslie, MI; two grand-dogs, Beau and Abby; sister-in-law, Zerilda Salminen of Gladstone; several nieces and nephews; and a great extended family living throughout Finland and the USA.
In addition to her parents and husband, Helen Ruth was preceded in death by brother, Carl Salminen; and an infant brother.
Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Helen Ruth Seppala will follow at 1:00 p.m., Sunday with Rev. Elisabeth Daniels officiating. A luncheon will be held at the conclusion of the services in the Anderson Funeral Home reception room. Burial will take place in the Rock Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials please be directed to First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, the Delta County Historical Society, or the Rock American Legion.
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