Biography Dorothy Joan Saralampi, age 78 of Toivola, died Thursday, March 5, 2009 after a prolonged illness. She was born October 19, 1930 in Toivola, the daughter of Roy and Helen (Kero) Meade. She was a graduate of Toivola High School in 1948. Dorothy married Curtis Saralampi on December 31, 1949 in Floodwood, Minnesota. Dorothy was a homemaker, wife, and mother who also worked for several years as an aide at the Toivola-Meadowlands School. Dorothy was a very active member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Toivola, serving many terms as an officer in the Ladies Guild. She enjoyed the weekly coffee fellowship and monthly potluck lunches at church. She also very much enjoyed her participation in the Toivola Senior Citizens group. Dorothy's greatest joy was in family activities. She was never happier than when the entire family gathered for a big Thanksgiving dinner at her home. Since she has been homebound, she has had much enjoyment from feeding the birds and watching the deer congregate under her front window many times a day. She looked forward to her weekly trip to town and lunch at KFC. She loved to cook and was a great baker; she was an avid reader, and her day was not complete until she did her crossword puzzles.
Dorothy is survived by her four children, Keith (Linda) Saralampi of Toivola, Butch (Nancy) Saralampi of Canyon, Patrice (Bob) Durovec of Meadowlands, and Scott (Kim MacDonald) Saralampi of Canyon; seven grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica) Saralampi, Adam (Kristina) Saralampi, Chad (Negar) Durovec, Amber Durovec, Linsey (Jim) Larson, Heather (Aaron Eklund) Saralampi, and Brea Durovec; great-grandchildren, Owen, Chase, Logan, Hanna, Aaron, Naveed, Nadia, and Darren; sister, Doris Sametz; brother and sister-in-law, Alvin and Elvi Saralampi; and two nieces and three nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis; her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Hugo and Olga Saralampi; and a nephew, Craig Sametz.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 13, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to the 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service at Hope Lutheran Church in Toivola. Pastor Lyle Northey will officiate. Memorials are preferred to the Hope Lutheran Church in Toivola.
Family services are provided by Anderson-Daniels, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Hibbing. To share a personal remembrance of Dorothy on-line, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Facts Born: October 19, 1930
Place of Birth: Toivola, MN
Death: March 5, 2009
Place of Death: Hibbing, MN