Beatrice Wertanen

Bea was born on March 6th, 1930 in Chatham, Michigan to Frank Lindstrom and Linda Lahti, and was raised by her loving grandparents, Henry and Eva Lahti and her dear aunt and uncle, Leah and Charles Lahti.

Bea attended school in Chatham and then Eben, and graduated as salutatorian of her class. She was raised on a farm and knew what hard work was. At the age of 13, she went to work at the U.P. Experimental Station in Chatham grading tulip bulbs and hoeing gardens. During her senior year and after graduation, she worked as a secretary at the Experimental Station and for the Michigan Extension Service. Growing up, she was very involved and took many awards in 4-H.

In 1949, she became the bride of William (Bill) Wertanen of Negaunee and they made their home in Beaver Grove (Marquette) and later in Negaunee Township. She was a mother and homemaker for many years and then began work in sales. In 1977, she went to work at Northern Michigan University as a housekeeper in the president’s home. She worked for Mrs. Jamrich, Mrs. Appleberry, and Mrs. Vandement. This was work she thoroughly enjoyed and had the opportunity to meet many people while employed there. After retiring, she helped take care of elderly people, a job that was very satisfying to her. She also got involved with the Christian Women’s Club and then the Emmaus community. Bea and her husband hosted a Bible study in their home for over 40 years.

Bea loved to cook and bake, and many were recipients of her Finnish pulla (cardamom bread) and Swedish coffee cake. She loved gardening, especially flowers and did a lot of canning from the garden, which she also shared with family and friends. Their door was always open and the coffee pot on and goodies in the freezer for when anyone would stop in.

Bea and Bill had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and Alaska to visit their children and grandchildren, which always gave them much enjoyment. She also took a few trips to Finland to find her Finnish roots and got to visit with many relatives. In 2015, she took a special trip to Israel and was able to walk where Jesus had walked and was baptized in the Jordan River.

Bea is survived by three children, William Paul (Jeanne) Wertanen of Homer, AK, Peter (Karen) Wertanen of Negaunee, Jean (Jim) Shaner of Bluffton, SC; eleven grandchildren, Tammi (Luke) DeRosch of Kenosha, WI, JoAnn Perkins of Kenosha, WI, William Paul Wertanen Jr. of Kenosha, WI, Matthew (Laura) Wertanen of Soldotna, AK, Kristen Wertanen of Soldotna, AK, Emily (Yukiko

Grine) Wertanen of Oshkosh, WI, Brent (Amanda) Wertanen of Windham, ME, Marlene (John) Koch of Stoughton, WI, Linda (Chris) Thompson of Ann Arbor, MI, Ashlee Shaner of Tallahassee, FL, Alyson Shaner of Durham, England; nine great-grandchildren, Paul, Carter, Hanako, Hiroyoshi, Oliver, Everett, Eleanor, Carsten, Lauren; brother, Wayne Salo (partner, Sharon Frigard) of Chatham; many friends and relatives here and in Finland.

Bea was preceded in death by her loving husband, William W. Wertanen, Lahti grandparents, mother, Linda Salo, two sisters, Bernice Aho and Sharon Thompson and brother, Herbert Leppanen, and cousin, Benzion Lahti .

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 19th at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 440 Stoneville Road, Ishpeming, MI, with Pastor Paul Kelto officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:30 AM until the time of the services. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. Interment will be in the Northern Chapel Gardens in Negaunee Township.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the caregivers at Brookridge Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care and Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice for their compassionate and professional care of Bea.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, 914 West Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI, 49855, in Bea’s memory.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.