Miriam Margaret Hay, age 80, of Ray, Minn., died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at Falls Good Samaritan Center after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born Nov. 18, 1928, at Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada to August and Helvi Kivimaki.

The former Miriam Kivimaki was united in marriage to James Edwin Hay on April 24, 1956.

Miriam worked in the accounting department for the Fort Frances paper mill from 1947 to 1956, and later worked for Mando paper mill in International Falls from 1956 to 1965.

She also was the financial secretary for Zion Lutheran Church for 25 years and volunteered with the auxiliary at Falls Memorial Hospital.

Miriam and James purchased Watson’s General Store in Ray in 1972. Miriam retired from Hay’s General Store in 2002.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Survivors include children, Lori (Svein) Aasen of Norway, Brenda (Gregg) Herzig of Duluth, Minn., and David (Lisa) Hay of Ray, Minn., grandchildren, Lindsey and Lisbeth Aasen, Chelsey and Mackenzie Herzig, and Cole and Mason Hay; brothers, Edwin (Vivian Callaghan) Kivimaki and Larry (JoAnne) Kivimaki and their families, both of Fort Frances.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at First Lutheran Church, International Falls.

Interment will be at Ray Cemetery.

If so desired, in memoriam donations would be preferred to the SMDC Oncology Department, 407 East Third St., Duluth, MN 55805.

The family wishes to thank the SMDC Oncology Department and Dr. Daniel Nikcevich for the wonderful care they provided Miriam the past three years.

Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.

Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.