Lois Ann (Sipper) Hyytinen

Lois Ann (Sipper) Hyytinen passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025. Lois was born on September 18, 1936, in Crosby, MN. She was the seventh of which eventually would become 14 children born to Stephen and Lillian Sipper. Lois graduated high school in 1954. She briefly attended Brainerd Community College (and much later served on their Board). In 1958, she married Don Hyytinen of Aitkin and moved to the farm he grew up on. 

Together they had four children and 9 grandchildren. She loved being a grandmother. Lois loved spending time with family and friends and hosting them for dinner and card playing. She always wanted others around. She loved cooking and baking. She was an exceptional pie maker and often made them as gifts for others. In the late 1970s, Lois applied for the YFU (Youth For Understanding) program hoping to host a foreign exchange student for a year. To this day, Paul Kroeze and his wife Marit of the Netherlands remain close to our family. 

Lois ran Hyytinen’s Hardware Hank (HHH) alongside Don for 30 years. With her expertise in the paint department and great customer/community support, HHH found themselves ranked among the top in paint sales for all of the Hardware Hank stores in the Midwest. 

Lois volunteered her time among a variety of local organizations throughout her life. In 2001, she and Don served as Aitkin’s Riverboat Captain and Queen. In 2004, they were awarded the Warren Potter Lifetime Achievement Award for their service and commitment to the promotion and growth of the Aitkin Area. 

She led a full and happy life together with Don and deeply loved her family, friends, and community. She was a great mom and grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her husband Don, grandson Matti, parents Stephen and Lillian, and siblings Kenneth, Mabel, John, Walter, Patricia, Robert, and Roy.

She is survived by her children Joel (Teresa) Hyytinen, Jan Mowbray, Jill Hyytinen, and Joy (Scott) Gustin; grandchildren Jacob and Hannah Hyytinen, Andrew (Silvia) and Sawyer Mowbray, Spencer, Sydney, Anja, and Aliina Gustin, foreign exchange son Paul (Marit) Kroeze, siblings Stephen (Cindy), Jean (Dick), Ray (Charlene), Sandra (Dick), Jim, and Kay, and many, many more beloved relatives. 

Services will be Tuesday, October 28 at 11 AM in Northwoods Community Church, Aitkin.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. A luncheon will immediately follow. Interment will be in Rabbit Lake Cemetery, Glen Township. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Aitkin Lions Club or a local organization of your choice.  To leave a message of condolence, please visit:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lois Ann (Sipper) Hyytinen, please visit our floral store.