Helen Phyllis (Hietala) Palkki, 86, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Thursday, December 10. She was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Matt and Saimie Josephine (Kangas) Hietala.

Helen lived in various northern Minnesota towns from 1929 to 1947. She married Phillip Harold Palkkii in 1947 and, together, they made their way to Sweet Home, Oregon where they raised their family. They also resided in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from 1989 to 1990 when she served a mission with Phillip for their church. From 1991 to 2003, they lived in various places in Linn and Benton counties here in Oregon. From 2003 to 2010, they lived in McMinnville, Oregon. From 2010 to 2015, Helen lived in Sweet Home, Oregon.

Helen worked doing secretarial duties at different law, medical, and seed companies. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served faithfully in many leadership capacities. She volunteered as a precinct election worker for many years. She also volunteered many years of service as a Cub Scout leader.

Her hobbies included genealogy research, sewing, quilting, canning, and reading.

Helen and Phillip had seven children, 24 grandchildren, and 65.3 great-grandchildren.

Helen is survived by: her husband, Phillip Harold Palkki of Sweet Home, OR; son, Dennis Palkki, and his wife, Marilyn, of Milwaukie, OR; son, Marvin Palkki, and his wife, Karen, of Provo, UT; son, Tom Palkki, and his wife, Darla, of Corvallis, OR; daughter, Cheryl Funk, and her husband, Art, of Sweet Home, OR; sister, Bernice Palkki, of Marquette, MI; brother, Ken Hyatt, of Grantsburg, WI; and sister, Bonnie Winn, of Alanson, MI.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, ‘baby boy,’ in 1948; daughter, Phyllis Ann, in 1951; daughter, Debra Zook, in 2014.

Viewing will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, December 21, with a funeral service to follow at 10:00 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home. Final burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery. Contributions can be made in honor of Helen to OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting).

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.