James F. Bakkila

James F. Bakkila, 68, Brainerd, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

He was born Nov. 26, 1933, in Brainerd to John A. and Elsie M. (Anderson) Bakkila. He moved with the family to Hastings, Neb., to work at the munitions depot during World War II. He lived in Oregon until he enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He trained as a Seabee at the Port Hueneme Builders School and then was stationed in Newfoundland. After his discharge, he graduated as a diesel mechanic from OTI, Klamath Falls, Ore. He worked on jet engines as a civilian for the Air Force. He remained in Oregon and Washington, working on road construction until he retired in Montana on a Christmas tree farm.

Survivors include three sons, Veikko Bakkila, Montana, Karl Bakkila, Minnesota, and Talvi Bakkila, California; three daughters, Lauri Holdaway and Jan DeCent, both of Montana, and Lyyti Bakkila, Minnesota; two stepdaughters; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

His parents; a grandson; a brother, John Bakkila; and two sisters, Rhea Bennett and Geniveve Lonergan, died earlier.

Services will be 6:30 p.m. Monday at Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home in Brainerd. Burial will be in Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka, Mont.

Friends may call one hour before services Monday at the funeral home.