Sylvia Amilia Joslin

Sylvia Amilia Lundstrom Joslin
January 9, 1928 – August 24, 2013

Sylvia Amilia Lundstrom was born to Lempi Josephine Siipakka and Hans Leander Lundstrom at home, in Winton, Minnesota, on January 9, 1928.

She went through grade school in Tower, Minnesota, and was always the tallest person in the school. She loved to run and ice skate and captured many competitive titles at small community events. She even won enough money to buy a new swimming suit, a dress, and a candy bar at an Independence Day race. Later in life she could still “run like the wind.” She spent many happy times at her grandmother Selma’s dairy farm near the Boundary Waters Canoe area with her brother and sister. When the iron mines played out in northern Minnesota, her father moved the family to Butte, Montana, where Sylvia attended school from the 8th grade. She was voted “The Beauty Queen of the West” and graduated with honors in 1946.

Immediately after high school, Sylvia moved to Helena and became a medical stenographer at Fort Harrison. She met Harry Joslin, Jr. on a blind date and was married September 13, 1947, at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Helena. They spent their free time camping, hunting, fishing, and boating. Aptly named Sylvi, which in Finnish means “of the forest” Sylvia loved trees of all types, and her favorite solitary past-time was hiking or cross-country skiing with her dog in the mountain forests south of Helena.

A gifted seamstress, she made dozens of bridesmaids, prom, costume, and school dresses, as well as men’s suit coats and dress shirts. Intricate sweaters seemed to pour off of her knitting needles and became her hallmark. Delicate princess cakes, chocolate filled “choo-choo train” cakes, cakes of all shapes and sizes graced the table of every holiday and birthday. She took up painting and became proficient in watercolors, once winning first and second place at the Last Chance Stampede and Fair.

Sylvia was a quiet, unassuming, but capable person who could fix almost anything. She would put down her pliers then pick up her spatula to whip out a gourmet dinner or cater food for the many parties Harry and she would host. She once spent two full days picking grouse whortle-berries to make a pie that the family never forgot.

A member of the Daughter’s of the Nile, because she was tall and slender, Sylvia was repeatedly asked to serve in what she called “one of those embarrassing get ups” as a slave girl. But she always willingly participated, and she fit the bill beautifully.

Sylvia and Harry toured the world from her ethnic Finland, to Brazil, Spain, Mexico, and Italy. But she knew and loved the forests and mountains of Montana best.

In the mid-80s Sylvia and Harry moved to the Washington state coast to live aboard the first of many cabin-cruiser boats. During that seven-year period, they explored most of the inlets and bays of the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia and much of the lower Alaskan coastline. Eventually they moved ashore to Anacortes and then inland to Seedro Woolley where she enjoyed gardening and landscaping. When health issues began to plague both, she and Harry moved back to Helena in 2005 to be close to family.

It would be challenging to find a sweeter, more gentle, and supportive human being. Her family and friends will miss her more than words can express.

Sylvia passed away less than 5 months after her husband Harry died. They had been married nearly 67 years. Also preceding her was her son Craig, her parents, her brother George Lundstrom, and sister Evelyn Sevoris, as well as one niece and two nephews. She is survived by her daughter Gayle Joslin (Jim Posewitz) of Helena, grandson Clayton DeSimone (friend Michele Hensen) of Tucson Arizona, granddaughter Ann DeSimone Gassmann (Nathan), great-grandchildren Joslin Rose and Lyzander Marshall Gassmann of Wise River, and four nieces and two nephews. Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the staff of Rosetta Assisted Living for their caring, compassionate attention to Sylvia and her family. Thanks also are extended to Frontier Hospice for their professional, attentive services, which were provided immediately upon request.

The family will host a gathering to celebrate Sylvia’s life from 1 to 4 p.m. on August 31, at daughter Gayle’s house, in Travis Creek (call for directions and to RSVP, 442-6987). Cremation has taken place. She will join Harry this fall at his resting place in the Dearborn River drainage, as well as at her grandmother’s farm in Minnesota.

Memorials may be sent to the Montana Wilderness Association, 80 South Warren Street, Helena, MT, 59601, or Frontier Hospice 800 Front Street, Helena, MT 59601.

Sylvia of the Forest, now…
Juokse kuin tuulen ~~ Run Like the Wind

Service Schedule

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.