03/29/2026
Taimi Helena Hauta (née Linne)
1925 – 2026
Taimi Helena Hauta (née Linne) was born in Loimaa, Finland, on February 19, 1925, and passed away peacefully at the Dinsmore Health Care Centre on March 14, 2026, at the age of 101 years.
At age two, Taimi travelled with her mother by ship from Finland to Canada to meet her dad, already in Saskatchewan. They farmed south of Dinsmore. Mom said that her family didn’t have much money (it was the Dirty Thirties in Saskatchewan), but she didn’t feel deprived because it was the same for everyone they knew. She remembered how excited she was to receive an orange in her stocking every Christmas as a little girl.
Taimi attended Gopher Hill, a one-room school, walking or cross-country skiing to get there. She boarded in Dinsmore during high school. Mom said she enjoyed playing ball, walking with her collie dog, and picking saskatoons.
After high school, Mom took the train to Saskatoon to attend Normal School. She taught in one-room schools in Saskatchewan (near Prince Albert, Kandahar, Estevan and at Coteau Hill) and Alberta (at Hilda near Medicine Hat, and at Devon when the oil boom started at Leduc). Later, she taught kindergarten (which she always said was as much fun as work!) and was a substitute teacher at Dinsmore.
Mom’s farming community had many Finnish immigrants, and she maintained her language and culture throughout her life. Daughter Shirley remembers her mother celebrating Finnish holidays, including “Little Christmas” or "Pikku Joulua" on the first Sunday in December. Taimi invited Finnish neighbours for coffee, rice pudding, and Christmas baking.
Taimi's baby brother had died a few days after birth, so she was raised as an only child. She wanted a big family. A fellow Finn, Everet Hauta, had returned from Army service after World War Two ended. He asked her parents’ permission to take her to a country dance, and they danced together always!
Taimi and Everet Hauta were married on July 18, 1949, and had a mixed farm of beef and grain in the RM of King George south of Dinsmore. Taimi kept a big garden and both she and Everet were active in community affairs.
Taimi's first child, Pearl, was born in May 1950. Taimi had not intended to teach the next school year, but the board of the Coteau Hill School pleaded with her to teach. There was still a shortage of qualified teachers after World War II and the baby boom, and they hadn't been able to hire a teacher. So Everet cared for Pearl after harvest was complete and until it was seeding time the next spring.
Mom said that sometimes it felt quite isolated on the farm, especially in winter with poor road conditions, but the help and friendliness of neighbours made things easier. Days were filled with gardening, milking cows, selling cream, churning butter, baking bread and pies (boysenberry pie was a favorite!), angel food cakes, cooking three meals a day for six people, sewing clothes, and driving to town to get machinery parts. She and her friend Jean Kallio were influential in organizing the Suncrest Homemakers, a Womens’ Institute group; the members met monthly to socialize, learn and organize community activities.
Taimi is survived by four children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren: Pearl (John) Morrison and their daughters, Ellen Morrison (Sean Fletcher) and sons Walter and Henry, Sarah Morrison (fiancé Simon Hughes); Don (Lorna) Hauta and their children, Tarya (Jamie) Hough and children Colby (girlfriend Jessaint Desjarlais) and Emily, Quentin (Erin Brady) Hauta and children Jack and Aubrey; Jean Hauta (Bob Simmons) and their children, Nikki Simmons, George (Caylee) Simmons and sons Carter and Everet; Shirley Hauta (Ron Heinrichs).
Mom and Dad enjoyed visiting “the kids” wherever they moved, and they wanted their grandchildren to know them. Mom helped the grandkids learn to bake buns and pies. Mom and Dad thought education was important and encouraged lifelong learning. Mom was involved in the Home and School, the 4-H group, the Dinsmore Library, Suncrest Homemakers, and the Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Taimi and Everet continued to enjoy dancing at Bud’s Barn near Dinsmore, wedding dances, square dances, and old-time dances. Everet and Taimi agreed early in their marriage that they would go on a holiday every year. Sometimes it meant travelling with four kids in the car! They travelled all over Canada, to many countries in Europe, several Caribbean locations and many parts of the United States, and enjoyed getting to know people wherever they went.
Everet and Taimi were married for 58 years before Everet died in February 2008. After that, Mom moved to a seniors’ high-rise in Outlook, then to a personal care home in Saskatoon, before returning to her Dinsmore roots, spending her last years at Dinsmore Health Care Centre. As well as her husband Everet, she was predeceased by her parents, Kalle and Elina Linne.
When people ask what Mom’s secret was to have lived for 101 years, we’d say she always worked hard and enjoyed life. She often said, “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken!” which is another way to express Finnish sisu.
We want to thank the Dinsmore Health Care Centre staff, who gave Mom excellent care and support for more than five years. Mom appreciated what was done for her. Dr. Mynhardt, Hein, has been helpful and caring for both our Mom and Dad over many years, and we appreciate that very much.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Dinsmore United Church, followed by coffee at the Dinsmore Seniors’ Hall. Memorial donations may be made to the Dinsmore Health Foundation (c/o Dinsmore Village Office, Box 278, Dinsmore, SK S0L 0T0) or the Dinsmore United Church (Box 487, Dinsmore, SK S0L 0T0). To share memories and express condolences, please visit outlookfuneralchapel.com.
