ISHPMEING, MI - Sally (Hakala) Forsman passed away on May 8, 2026. Born to Toivo and Ingrid Hakala, Sally grew up surrounded by a close-knit circle of family. She often remarked that she was raised by "six mothers"—her mother Ingrid, her older sisters Carol and Lois, and her aunts Eva, Martha, and Elmie. She was often surrounded by numerous cousins. From her family, she developed a deep appreciation for her Finnish heritage, as well as a love for poetry, literature, and theatre.

In 1977, she married Oscar Forsman, whom she first met a few years earlier after being drawn to the sound of him playing a Finnish song on his accordion. While raising their two young daughters, Sinikka and Aleksandra, Sally pursued a career in nursing. She graduated at the top of her nursing class and dedicated several decades of her life to serving others as a nurse and caregiver. Later in her career, she was able to satisfy a lifelong wanderlust by installing medical record systems at hospitals from New York to Puerto Rico to California.

Sally was deeply proud of her Finnish heritage. She was an active member of three different chapters of the Finlandia Foundation across Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. Her commitment to her roots led her to attend numerous FinnFests, even serving on the planning committee for the 1994 FinnFest in DeKalb, Illinois. Sally was a lifelong advocate for the arts and education. She held a firm belief that "Books are necessities," and she had a knack of finding the perfect quotation for any occasion.

More recently, Sally and Oscar relocated to Ishpeming, Michigan, where Sally enjoyed knitting, reading, and taking in views of Lake Superior. She enjoyed traveling, particularly to visit her granddaughter, Annikka.

The family will be holding a small, private service to honor Sally’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to support the Northstar Arts Camp, where Sally served as the camp nurse for many years.

Donations may be sent to:

Northstar Foundation

P.O. Box 293

Hibbing, MN 55746