Hilda Amanda Santti

Amanda was born on October 26, 1926, to Hilda (Wiippolla) Korpi and Matt Korpi and was raised on the Korpi farm located north of Ishpeming. She often helped out with the farm work associated with raising dairy cows, and other animals. She walked to school with friends and siblings, attending the Fire Center School. She occasionally had to miss school to help harvest potatoes, but it did not negatively affect her schoolwork as she was a bright student. She went on to attend high school and graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1945.

Following her graduation, Amanda applied to nursing schools and chose Harper Nursing School in Detroit, Michigan. Traveling alone by train from Ishpeming to Detroit and spending a night in a hotel by herself was a point of pride. She enjoyed her time there and made several life-long friends of the other students. Upon graduation she worked for several veteran’s hospitals in Dearborn and Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Amanda married Leonard Santti on Feb 28, 1953, and they had four children who she was very proud of. She was a strong proponent of education, urging them to continue their education after graduating from high school, which they did. While raising her young children, she worked part time at Bell Hospital in Ishpeming. When her youngest child started school in 1961, she started working full time in the Bell Hospital Emergency Room. She was promoted to head ER nurse and ran her department very efficiently for many years. Amanda took great pride in her work and enjoyed it immensely. She never let the weather stop her from getting to work and considered coffee breaks non-essential. In her spare time, she would help her husband Leonard with his various logging and other outdoor projects.

Amanda retired from nursing in 1992 and shortly afterwards she and Leonard moved from Ishpeming to Marquette where she did volunteer work with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. The couple traveled extensively, visiting and helping their children and grandchildren all over the country. After her husband’s passing, Amanda continued to live independently until the age of 90 when she moved to Teal Lake Assisted Living in Negaunee.

Amanda is survived by her children – Gary Santti, Glenn (Julie) Santti, Cynthia (Chris) Heng, Scott (Julie) Santti, her grandchildren – Sara (Bob) Kalaveras, Kyle (Kate) Santti, Justin Heng, Jared Heng, Ashley (Aaron) Taylor, and Eric Santti, eight great-grandchildren, Spencer Santti, Avery Kalaveras, Landon Kalaveras, Oscar Santti, Kaisa Santti, Dax Santti, Finn Taylor, Fox Taylor and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, her siblings Hilda Korpi, Hilma Korpi, Arvid Korpi, Corrinne Lucas, Matt Korpi, Jr, Ellen Tippett and Arthur Korpi and a great-grandchild Natalie Santti.

Per Amanda’s wishes there will be no services at this time. A gathering will be held at a later date.

Amanda’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkanszhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.