Cover photo for Minna Skila's Obituary
Minna Skila Profile Photo
1922 Minna 2016

Minna Skila

December 12, 1922 — March 19, 2016

Minna Skila ended her journey of life on March 19, 2016 at the age of 93. Born on a working farm in rural Latvia, she really did have to walk miles to school. When she left home at age 15, she never stopped her adventure. Being trained as a nurse, her services were in high demand during World War II. Narrowly missing being shot, she secreted her way out of Latvia hidden in a rail car, to spend the balance of the war in a camp in Germany. Here she gave birth to her beautiful daughter Ilga and less than 5 years later they immigrated to the United States. Moving first to Oakland, CA, they eventually settled in Santa Rosa, CA. Minna loved tending to her huge gardens, her fruit trees, and canning vegetables which she shared with her neighbors. She spent years donating her time to her church and being one of the stronger voices in the church choir. In December, 2006, she let her voice ring at Royal Albert Hall in London, much to the surprise of all of the attendees. Macular degeneration led to her decision to move to Denver, where she would regularly make the 1.5 mile walk uphill from her condo to Ilga's home to work in the garden, bake chocolate chip cookies or just tend to the dogs. Besides her daughter and son-in-law, John Tyler, Minna is survived by her beloved granddaughters, Katherine Grimes, Kresta Johnson and Sophie Stoddard, their husbands Brad, Todd and Ben, along with her treasured great grandchildren, Tyler, Thomas, Hollis, Rory, Malin, Finn and Easton. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church 1270 Poplar Street Denver, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Latvian Culture Center of Colorado 10705 W Virginia Ave, Lakewood, CO 80226. Please share memories of Minna with her family by visiting the Guestbook link.
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