Hilja Helena Anderson

Hilja Helena Kultala Anderson passed away on Monday, January 12th, 2015, encircled by loving family. She was born in New York Mills, Minnesota on May 2nd, 1920 to Anna Johanna and Elias Leander Kultala. At the time of her passing, she was the last surviving member of her eight siblings. Hilja (which means quiet in Finnish) attended grade school and high school in New York Mills. After graduating from high school she moved to Minneapolis. She later enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January of 1944, following in the footsteps of her brothers, Edwin (Eppie) and Carl. She was a Mailman 1st Class, stationed in San Francisco, California, and received her honorable discharge on February 16th, 1946. She used the G.I. Bill to attend beauty school, and returned to New York Mills where she met and married Alan Ross Anderson (aka Ross or Andy) in 1949. After serving in the army during WWII, Ross had the opportunity to travel to Seattle and decided that he would eventually like to live there. Hilja and Ross moved there in 1950. Hilja is remembered for her kind and compassionate heart, her sense of humor, her patience, her love of beauty and nature and her generous spirit. She was not afraid of any task and was accomplished in many things. She enjoyed quilting with the Lutheran quilt group, canning, baking, sewing and gardening. She had a keen eye for detail and this served her well not just in her hobbies, but also in her work at Boeing, where she was a bench mechanic and fabricated jet plane parts until her retirement to Chinook, Washington in 1985. It was their love of fishing, boating and the outdoors that initially drew Ross and Hilja to Chinook. They enjoyed their final years being host to friends and family who also delighted in the bounty of this beautiful area. Ross passed in 2000 and Hilja was able to remain in their family home in Chinook until her own passing. She was an avid reader and kept many journals throughout her life that are a source of inspiration to her children now. Hilja is survived by her children, Luanne (Luey) Anderson, who was her primary caregiver in Chinook, Washington, Laurie Anderson, of Seaview, Washington and Guy Anderson of Des Moines, Washington. Hilja has five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Chinook Lutheran Church at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 24th, 2015. Donations in her memory may be made to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chinook Memorial Fund. Hilja's guestbook may be signed at www.penttilaschapel.com