Emma Väärä was born on Tapio farm no 26 and her father was a crofter. She moved to America in 1917.

Emma Alajoki, 103, was born Aug. 22, 1897, in Muhos, Finland. She came to the United States in June of 1916 [1917], living first in Massachusetts. Emma worked as a ward maid in a hospital. She came to the Deer River area in 1921 when she was asked to cook at the lumber camp of her cousin, John Puhakka, near Mack. She married John Alajoki Aug. 11, 1921, and lived in the Deer River area most of her life.

She is survived by a son, Robert Alajoki; eight grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 17 stepgreat-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and three stepgreat-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband John in 1969 and a daughter Mildred Isaacs in 1966.

My stepdad lived in Deer River and knew John and Emma. He worked with Robert and his brother-in-law Emery Isaacs at the Co-op store in Deer River. He just told me where John and Emma lived in a little green house just outside of Deer River. ¹

Funeral: Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. at Apostolic Lutheran Church, Deer River. Burial: Olivet Cemetery, Morse Township, Deer River. Arrangements by Carroll Funeral Home, Deer River.

Robert M. Alajoki, 94, Deer River, MN died August 8, 2018 in Deer River. Bob was born June 6, 1924 in Chisholm, raised in the Deer River area and graduated from Deer River High School.

He was a WWII veteran of the Army Air Corps serving on Guam as a B29 mechanic. He and Evelyn Isaacs were married May 22, 1948. They settled and built a farm in rural Deer River. His primary occupation was as a welder for J & L Steel. His interests included ricing, cutting boughs, logging, hunting, fishing and farming. He was a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church of Deer River.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma Alajoki; sister, Mildred (Emery) Isaacs; and great granddaughter Minka Alajoki.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Evelyn; son, Robert A. (Diane); daughter, Sandra (Keith) Aho; 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. ^{2 3}