Family Group Sheet for Gust Johan Helbacka
Husband: Gust Johan Helbacka
Birth: 17 February 1903 in Ely, Minnesota
Death: 10 April 1995 in Duluth Minnesota
Burial: April 1995 in Ely, Minnesota
Marriage: 18 July 1928 in Ely, Minnesota
Father: Elias Heikki Eliass Helpakka
Mother: Anna Kaisa Johansdtr Kaatiala
Wife: Lulu Alina Kultala
Birth: 30 May 1909 in Tower, Minnesota
Death: 22 July 1986 in Ely, Minnesota
Burial: 1986 in Ely, Minnesota
Father: Matt August Kaisass Kultala
Mother: Amalia Aliina Pettersdtr Hietela
Children:
1 Name: Female Helbacka
2 Name: Male Helbacka
3 Name: Male Helbacka
Notes
Gust Johan Helbacka
Gust the only of the Helpakka children to be born in the USA. Gust started school in 1908 at Central Grade school, where kindergarten was held in the boiler room. One year later Lincoln school was built, where he attended first through 6 grade. In 1915, Washington School was built and Gust began 7th grade. He went to Ely High School through his freshman year, and the following year the Spanish Flu hit and the schools were closed. Gust went with 5 people to Swallow-Hopkins Lumber Camp and worked until schools opened again. During the summers of 1916 and 1917 Gust worked at the Section 30 mines. He worked 10 hour shifts for only $2.00 per day. He rode his bike to work. After the child labor law went into affect, he could only work 8 hour days. His job was to take samples of ore cars as the rock was dumped into the cars from the hoist. He later worked at the Winton lathe mill at age 14 until school started. In 1920, Swallow-Hopkins opened a logging camp on the south side of Burntside Lake. Gust and his friend Matthew (Eino) Latiala went out and were hired on to cut logging roads Eino father came and got him after a week to return to school, but Gust never finished his Sophomore year. Around 1921 at age 18, he went to work at the Chandler mines during the winter months and summer, he worked on the highway for the state, then at LeRue Mine in the engine house at Armstrong Bay on Lake Vermilion for about 2 years. He also worked at the McComber mine on Armstrong Lake in 1924for a few months. He settled down to work at the Sibley mines where he remained for 13 years. When development work was completed he transferred to Pioneer Mine. One day in 1943, while coupling cars, Gust was injured at work and was laid up for 6 months. He returned to work for light duty but then needed another operation. He retired from the mine when they closed in 1967. His first motorized vehicle was a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a side car which he purchased second hand. He traded it in on a Chevrolet Coupe in 1927. His father Elias bought the motorcycle back and kept it until he traded it in on a 1929 Pontiac for the family.
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