Raija-Leena Nyborg

Raija-Leena Anneli Itkonen Nyborg, 75, of Sugar City, formerly of Ashton, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at home.

She was born May 8, 1934, in Viipuri, Finland, the daughter of Jaakko Vilho Itkonen and Hilja Katriina Pesonen Itkonen.

In November 1939, when she was 5 years old, the Soviet Union attacked Finland in what is known as the Finnish Winter War, and she became a war refugee, fleeing with her family into other parts of Finland. During the course of World War II, the family lived in different places, eventually settling in Tampere, Finland, where she completed her elementary and secondary education. In 1951, she began nurses training and studied in Sweden in 1952.

In 1953, she came to the United States on a visit, where she met and married Keith Foote Nyborg in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on May 29, 1953. To this union were born three children, Phillip Michael, Bruce David and Maija-Liisa.

She and her husband farmed and ranched in the area known as France in eastern Fremont County on Conant Creek, located between Ashton and Tetonia. They lived there until 1981, when President Ronald Reagan called her husband, Keith, to be the United States ambassador to Finland. They lived and served in Finland until 1986. Following their assignment in Finland, they returned to the ranch where they lived until 2004, when they moved to Sugar City due to her failing health.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in various callings in the Junior Sunday school, Primary, Young Women's and Relief Society. She was also active in community affairs.

She is survived by her husband, Keith; three children, Phillip Michael "Mike" (Kathryn) Nyborg of Centerville, Utah, Bruce David (Debi) Nyborg of Idaho Falls and Maija-Liisa (Brad) Adams of Rexburg; 16 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Kalevi Itkonen of Ikaalinen, Finland, and Matti Itkonen of Nastola, Finland.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister; a brother; and two grandchildren.

At her request, a public funeral service will not be held. She will be lovingly remembered at a private funeral service. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Baxter Funeral Home, 717 Main St. in Ashton.

Interment will be in the Andrew Nyborg family plot in Wilford Cemetery. Condolences may be sent online to the family at finlandiaranch@gmail.com.