Ishpeming- Patsy (Pat) V. Bietila, age 89, formerly of 176 Davis St., Ishpeming, entered eternal life Sunday, June 5, 2016, at Marquette County Medical Care Facility, where she had resided for the past 3 months.

Prior to that she had lived with her daughter for 3 years.

Pat was born to Rowland and Dora (Wyse) Parks on March 17, 1927, in Snoqualmie, Washington and spent most of her childhood in Yakima, WA. She graduated from Yakima High School with the Class of 1944.

While working at the Summit Inn on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, she met her future husband, Ralph 'Fuddo' Bietila, of Ishpeming, who was there to compete for a place on the 1948 U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team. When he asked her for a date, she informed him, "I don't date my customers!" but she said she was won over by his accent (Yooper) and sad eyes. After five months of correspondence, she moved to Ishpeming, taking a job at the H.W. Gossard Co. Pat and Ralph were married on September 19, 1947. Together they raised 3 children in the Cleveland location. For decades Ralph remained active in ski jumping, from competing and mentoring to helping maintain the ski hill. Pat held down the homefront when Ralph was gone on lengthy ski trips and two Olympics. The family also often hosted foreign skiers (especially Finns) for weeks at a time.

Pat loved books. When her children were grown, Pat worked at Ishpeming's Carnegie Library. Her creativity enhanced the Children's Library with her decorations, book-related displays, handcrafted puppet costumes, puppet shows and storytimes. It later continued to be used in her volunteer work at the Ishpeming Senior Center.

Pat's favorite art was painting; but her talents extended into many crafts, both decorative and practical, that included embroidery, sewing, knitting, art quilts, Fema clay, stuffed toys, gardening and baking. Her sewing projects, especially her exquisitely detailed Barbie outfits, were greatly appreciated.

She spent countless hours with her grandchildren who describe her as the epitome of what a grandma should be.

Pat is survived by daughter Karen Kakkuri; sisters, Judy Whitehead (Tuolumne, CA), Jo Ann Douglas (Monroe, WA) and brother, John Deymonaz (Dyer, NV); daughter-in-law Susan S. Bietila (Milwaukee, WI); six grandchildren: David (Mary Clare) and Eric Bietila, Taylor Bietila, and Clint (Amanda), Renae, and Chad (Kimberly) Kakkuri; grandson-in-law Jason Collister; and eight great grandchildren: Drew and Malina Collister, Peyton and Dax Kakkuri, Twila Bietila, Asa and Brayden Kakkuri, and Ethan Bietila; nieces nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Also preceding her were her daughter Sandra Bietila, her husband Ralph and her sister Janice Parks, all in 2008, as well as her son Paul Bietila and her son-in-law Bob Kakkuri in 2015.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at MCMCF for their compassionate and professional care.

On Friday, June 10, the family will greet relatives and friends from 10:30am to 12:00 Noon at Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home. Services will follow the visitation with Brandon Morey officiating. Guests are invited to join the family for lunch at the Country Grill Restaurant at 1 p.m. Internment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Pat's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends can leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .