Usko Murtonen

1928 - 2025

 Usko Salomo Murtonen, beloved husband of Helmi Murtonen, passed into the presence of the Lord in Taber on Monday, April 28, 2025 at the age of 96 years.

A service to celebrate Usko's life will be held at the First Christian Reformed Church, 3902 Heritage Drive, Taber on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. A private committal service will follow at the Taber Memorial Garden Columbarium.

He is survived by his wife, Helmi (they were married a few days short of 72 years) and their children Markku (Pirkko) Murtonen of Campbell River, British Columbia, Marja (Tuomo) Kostamo of Taber, Miriam (Wilson) Demjanczuk of Naples, Florida, Mike Murtonen of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Vesa (Jackie) Murtonen of Campbell River, British Columbia, Usko (Gwen) Murtonen of Campbell River, British Columbia and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.

Usko was born and raised on a farm in Ruovesi, Finland. At the age of twenty three, he received Christ as his personal Savior and Lord, and almost immediately sensed a call to the ministry. He took theological training in Santala, Hanko, Finland, was married and pastored in Kihnio and Lapua before moving to Australia with his family in 1960. He had received a call from God to go there to minister to the immigrant Finnish people, which he did while working as a carpenter to provide for his family. Two more children were born in Australia, making it five. In 1965, he was invited to pastor a Finnish congregation in Port Arthur (presently Thunder Bay), Ontario, so he moved his family there. During his time in Thunder Bay, one more son was born, making it six children – an international family. He later pastored in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and in 1985 they moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He pastored two congregations, one in Campbell River where they resided and one in Vancouver, commuting there on a weekly basis. He facilitated an annual summer camp at Nanoose Bay, which was enjoyed by many Finns from the island, mainland, and northwest United States.

At the age of seventy one, he retired from leadership but often still assisted in ministry, enjoying island life until 2019 when he and Helmi moved to the Finnish Rest Home in Vancouver, British Columbia and later to assisted living and continual care in Taber.

The family would like to say thank you to all the staff of Clearview Lodge, Linden View and the nursing staff of the palliative care unit of the Taber Hospital, who served Usko with kindness and compassion, as well as to Dr. Moffat and Dr. Krog, who helped him and us through this time.

Usko’s daughter Marja has written a book of Usko’s life called “The Story of Usko”. If you are wanting a copy, you can email her at .