Eine (Aini) Lindquist

Eine (Aini) Anneli Lindquist of Duluth, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at her Daughter’s home in Ottawa Hills, Ohio. Aini was born on November 9, 1930 in Hameenlinna, Finland to Yrjo and Liisa Maenpaa.

As a young woman of 21, and knowing very little English (“Lipstick and I Love You”), she ventured across the ocean to the USA. She initially worked as a bookbinder, and lived in Calumet City, Indiana, and later moved to Chicago where she was a housekeeper on the “Magnificent Mile”. She then moved to Duluth, Minnesota. One evening at the urging of her landlady, she went to a dance at the “Finn Hall”. Her landlady said, “You may meet Mr. Right tonight”. That night she met Rudy, who had also come from Finland. They danced for the next 45 years together, until his passing in 1999. When their twin sons were toddlers, they ran a neighborhood grocery store and Rudy worked as a Finishing Carpenter. Upon the arrival of their daughter, they moved into their permanent home in 1961.

Aini made a warm and loving home for her family and instilled a love and appreciation for their Finnish heritage and tradition. She was also a Landlady, Loving Babysitter, Room Mother and PTA member at Endion School. In later years, she took care of many elderly friends.

She was a member of the Ladies of Kaleva and Sampo Association for over 50 years. She was also a member of First Lutheran Church (and Naomi Circle). Aini’s talents were many; sewing, knitting, setting a beautiful table, decorating for the holidays, creating marvelous home cooked meals, baking (yes Pulla!), and she loved a good laugh! However, what stands out the most is her loving heart for family and friends. Even in her recent hospital stay, she was thinking of how she might thank the nice nurses who cared for her.

Aini was preceded in death by her beloved husband Rudy in 1999 and her parents in Finland. She will be missed by daughter Melinda (Mark) Wallin, of Ohio, sons Brant Lindquist of Pike Lake and Bruce (Barb) Lindquist of Duluth, Grandchildren, Christian, Kaija, Matt (Jessie), and Molly (Jerry) and four greatgrandchildren; stepchildren Britta and Curt in Finland and their families, including 5 grandchildren and 5 greatgrandchildren.

VISITATION:  Wednesday, July 10th from 5-7 PM at Dougherty Funeral Home.  Visitation continues Thursday, July 11th. from 1 PM until the 2 PM funeral service at First Lutheran Church, 1100 E. Superior Street, Duluth. Memorials may be made in Aini’s honor to Sampo Association (for cabin repair); or University of Minnesota Foundation Fund for Type 1 Diabetes Research, Fund #11947.  Link:   https://makingagift.umn.edu/give/fund.html?id=11947,  Mailing address:  University of Minnesota Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second Street, Duluth, 218-727-3555.