Terttu Helander

Funeral service for Terttu Helmi Helander, 89, of Aurora will be 10:30 am Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the Palo Congregational Church with Pastor Jerry Kosanovich officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Mrs. Helander died Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Essentia Health-Northern Pines in Aurora. She was born on May 7, 1926 to John and Olga (Seppanen) Kilpela in Eveleth. Terttu attended school in Aurora, graduating from the Aurora High School, Class of 1945. She was united in marriage to Raymond Helander on June 15, 1946. She had worked as a waitress for area restaurants until 1967 when she was employed as a mail carrier for the US Postal System in Aurora and Virginia. Terttu retired on May 1, 1986. She was a member of the Palo Congregational Church, and the Aurora Sr. Citizens. She volunteered her time at the East Range Clinic and Irongate Apartments. Survivors include her three sons: Ernest (Mary Ann) Helander of Palo, Randy Helander of Duluth, Ricky (Bonnie) Helander of Saginaw, MN; two daughters: Donna (Jim) Loomis of Casper, WY, and Diane Helander of Finland, MN; four grandchildren: John, Eric, Jonathan Helander and Danika (Roy) Joshua; six great-grandchildren; a sister: Violet Staggs of Nashville, AR; niece: Linda Helander of Albuquerque, NM She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; sister, Ruth Helander, niece, Shirley Sundstrom; and her parents.