Sonja Anita (Kangas-Salo) Aalto | News, Sports, Jobs
ROCK, MI – Sonja Anita (Kangas-Salo) Aalto, 941 W. Maple Ridge 37th Road, Rock, died of natural causes on Friday, November 18, 2022, at Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone, Michigan. He was 83 years old.
Sonja was born on July 23, 1939 in Finland in Richmond Township, Marquette County, Michigan. She was the daughter of Svea (Johnson) and William Kangas. Sonja was one of seven siblings who grew up in Suomi Location. She graduated from Negaunee High School in 1957. She later married Raymond “Rain” Salo and the couple had two sons, Mark and Allen. The Salo family lived in Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts and North Dakota. Ray died in 1980 and Allen in 2020.
Sonja spent many years in the banking industry, including First National Bank in Manistique, Michigan and banks in Benson, Minnesota and Amhearst, Massachusetts. In 1978, Sonja and Ray opened the Tall Timber Store in Gwinn, Michigan. He worked in the barter shop at KI Sawyer Air Force Base. Sonja also worked for the US Defense Logistics Agency in Battle Creek, Michigan, retiring in 2003 after 21 years of service. During his tenure with the federal government, he was awarded a plaque for saving the lives of 29 sailors when he found a vital part in time to repair a submarine’s air system in the Pacific. After living with her son Mark and his family in Bozeman, Montana for a year, Sonja moved to Harvey, Marquette County.
On July 7, 1977, Sonja married Howard “Hello” Aalto and they established their home in Rock.
Sonja belonged to Rock Senior Center, Rock Bible Chapel Choir, Ladies of the Elks in Marquette and Sweet Adelines in Battle Creek. She enjoyed singing and dancing as well as reading, swimming, golfing and skiing.
Sonja is survived by: her husband Howard of Rock; son Mark (Laurie) Salo of Bozeman, Montana; two granddaughters, Whitney (Holden) Jelinak of Gillette, Wyoming and Jordan Salo of Bozeman, Montana; daughter-in-law, Christina Salo, and grandsons, Nathan and Justin Quint, all of Maine; five siblings, David (Jackie) Kangas of Gwinn, Diana Peterson of Marquette, Priscilla (Brian) Hammond of Lake Placid, NY, James (Lynn) Solomon of Suomi Location and John (Shirley) Solomon of Ishpeming, Michigan; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Sonja was also survived by Howard’s children: Elizabeth “Liz” Coatsworth of Niceville, Florida; Brenda “Bim” (Fred) Ahtila of Gobles, Michigan; Greg “Heck” Wave of Rock; and Jeffrey “Jeff” (Faith) Aalto from Escanaba, Michigan with her family.
Sonja was preceded in death by: her parents; her first husband; son; a brother, William “Billy” Fabric and brother-in-law Don Peterson.
Funeral services and funerals will be held in the spring.