MORRISON, Colo. – Lena Ellen Yates Kangas went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Dec. 24, at Bear Creek Nursing Rehabilitation Home, in Morrison, Colo.

She was born Oct. 28, 1915, the daughter of William and Lottice (Parker) Yates of Greenwood. She grew up there and went to school at Tubbs District School through the eighth grade.

She was married to Eino Kangas on May 4, 1935, in South Paris. They lived in New Hampshire for about a year. They also lived on High Street, West Paris (the old Olson Farm), with Eino’s stepdad and mother, Kasper and Ida Pulkinen. They lived in Greenwood for about 10 years, then bought the farm on Trap Corner Hill, West Paris. After selling the Trap Corner Chicken Farm, they moved to Pioneer Street.

After Eino’s death in June 1977, Lena moved into Mountain View Apartments. A few years later, she moved to Colorado for six months, then back to Buck Hill for a short time, then to Hill Street Commons, South Paris, for about 10 years. In September 2005, she moved to Colorado to live the rest of her days with her daughter and her husband.

She was an avid NASCAR and Boston Red Sox fan. She was a member of West Paris and South Paris Senior Citizens and belonged to Tri-Town Rescue of West Paris for years. She was a life member of the Eastern Star of West Pairs and of the West Paris and Greenwood Historical Society. She was a member of the North Paris Federated Church and was baptized there in November 1986, then transferred to Trinity Lutheran Church of South Paris.

Lena’s employment through the years included Norway Shoe shop, Penley’s Clothespin mill in West Paris and Ecko in Locke Mills, from which she retired in 1979. She enjoyed embroidery and knitting, when health permitted, and also enjoyed flowers. She loved ice cream and chocolate. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds at her daughter’s during the last of her years there. When she was young, she could shoot a rifle as good as anyone. She also fished with her husband for years.

She is survived by her son, Richard Kangas and his wife, Louise, of Bryant Pond; a daughter, Sandra Weitzel and her husband, Don, from Pine, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Eino; two sons, Leland Kangas and Arthur Kangas and his wife, Louise; two brothers, Glenwood and Vernon and their spouses, Lempi (Leino) and Rita (Thurlow); and a sister, Bessie and husband, Herman Fuller.