Helen G. Cote
October 21, 1913 — September 5, 2006
Helen G. "Yaya" Cote, 92, of Baraga, died Tuesday afternoon, September 5, 2006 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L'Anse.
She was born October 21, 1913, in Houghton, a daughter of the late Richard Alphonse and Gertrude (Ongie) Cote and attended St. Ignatius School in Houghton and at an early age the family moved to Baraga. She graduated from Baraga High School in 1930 at the age of 16.
The week following graduation she was employed by Baraga Lumber Company as secretary. She held the job for three years and when the general manager resigned she was promoted to that position until the company dissolved some time later. Helen was then employed as Assistant Lumber Sales Manager for Ford Motor Company in L'Anse. It was then that the manager of the Ford Plant felt she was capable of selling lumber on the road, but it was unheard of at that time that a lady perform that duty. With the permission of the Detroit office she was given three days on the road and at the end of the three days she returned with orders for approximately six million feet of lumber. That was the start of her career on the road. Ford Motor Company closed the L'Anse plant in 1955 and she was employed as General Manager of Miller Lumber Sales in L'Anse. She remained with that company until her retirement in 1985. In all of her years on the road Helen had traveled approximately 200,000 miles.
Helen was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church, Baragaland Senior Citizens, AARP and an honorary member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association.
Helen is survived by a sister, Catherine (Onnie) Koskinen of Baraga; niece, Mary Kay (Tom) Clisch; nephews, Jim (Cele) Koskinen, Michael (Blanche) Koskinen, Pat (Mary) Koskinen and Bob (Sally) Koskinen; great nieces and nephews, Sue Skytta, Shellie Usitalo, TJ Clisch, Stacey Clisch, Jimmer Koskinen, Julie Ruotsala, John, Mike, Craig, Kim, Jason, Carey, Mark, Scott and Gary Koskinen; and 23 great-great nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 12 Noon in St. Ann's Catholic Church with Rev. George Maki officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the mass in the church. Interment will be in Baraga Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Skilled Nursing Unit at Baraga County Memorial Hospital.
The Jacobson Funeral Home is assisting the family.