Saimi Tamme

Saimi was born on January 19, 1921, in the Rossduff District in Saskatchewan, the youngest of 10 siblings. Saimi’s parents were John and Serafia Honkala, both born in Finland and immigrated to North Dakota then travelled by horse and wagon to settle in Canada.
When Saimi was 12 years old, her father passed away from cancer and she lost her mom four years later to tuberculosis. Saimi’s Uncle Dickie (Richard) Mahla helped her raise her and her brother Lauri.
Saimi made the best of things as she could growing up in the ‘30s on relief and walking miles to Lucky Lake to get her potato/cabbage sack. She never had much of an education but was a hard worker and learnt many useful skills as she grew up. Saimi became a very talented seamstress until her eyes and hands would no longer permit her to continue.
On March 27, 1940, Saimi married William Tamme. They worked together in a lumber camp where Saimi was cook and then they started farming south of Dinsmore, Sask. On June 30, 1945, Saimi’s only child was born. The family kept farming until 1958. After farming they started a family business and retired in Dinsmore.
Saimi enjoyed spending time at the lake in the summer with her family, playing cards, bingo, shuffleboard, and working in her garden. She enjoyed spending winters in Texas and Arizona playing golf and cards during the day and dancing. When travelling became too difficult, winters were spent in B.C. In her later years as her health deteriorated, she spent her last years in Pleasant View Care Home in Wadena, Sask.
Although Saimi always liked to travel, she loved coming home and giving her grandchildren treats from her travels. She loved being around her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Saimi and Bill spent 66 happily married years together.
Saimi is predeceased by her husband William; parents, John and Serafia; brother Lauri; her eight other brothers and sisters; and special friend Joe.
She is survived by her son Wilfred (Linda); grandchildren, Glenn (Robin), Shawn (Bonnie), Colin (Amanda), and Kimberly (Johan); great-grandchildren, Mercedese, Samantha, Tyson, Alexis, Brandon, Connor, Boey, Drexen, Oliver, Poppy; great, great-grandchild Jayden; and by many nieces and nephews.