June 4, 1929 – Dec. 10, 2015
Helen Phyllis (Hietala) Palkki, 86, of Sweet Home died Dec. 10, 2015.
She was born June 4, 1929 in Grand Rapids, Minn. to Matt and Saimie Josephine (Kangas) Hietala.
She lived in various northern Minnesota towns from 1929 to 1947.
In 1947 she married Phillip Harold Palkki and together they made their way to Sweet Home, where they raised their family.
The Palkkis also lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from 1989 to 1990, when they served a mission for their church. From 1991 to 2003 they lived in various places in Linn and Benton counties, from 2003 to 2010 in McMinnville, and then returned to Sweet Home.
Mrs. Palkki worked doing secretarial duties at different law, medical, and seed companies. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served faithfully in many leadership capacities. She volunteered as an election precinct worker for many years. She also volunteered many years of service as a Cub Scout leader.
Her hobbies included genealogy research, sewing, quilting, canning, and reading.
Mrs. Palkki is survived by her husband, Phillip Harold Palkki, of Sweet Home; sons Dennis and daughter-in-law Marilyn Palkki, of Milwaukie; Marvin and daughter-in-law Karen Palkki of Provo, Utah; and Tom and daughter-in-law Darla Palkki of Corvallis; daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Art Funk of Sweet Home; sisters Bernice Palkki of Marquette, Mich. and Bonnie Winn, of Alanson, Mich.; a brother, Ken Hyatt of Grantsburg, Wis.; 24 grandchildren; and 65 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, ‘baby boy’, in 1948; daughter Phyllis Ann in 1951; and daughter Debra Zook in 2014.
Viewing will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home, with a funeral service following at 10 a.m. Final burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery.
Contributions can be made in honor of Mrs. Palkki to OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting).
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.