Many of us know of older Finnish ladies who still make cardamom bread (biscuit to some) and perhaps a few others who weave rag rugs on a loom.
Joann Luhta does both of these to perfection at age 95. Still drives her Subaru, often 50 or more miles from Ely, MN to Meadowlands, where she is soon to move into a new house, with a place for her looms and a new oven.
For some years, Joann has lived in Ely, Minnesota. She has buried two husbands, but that has not hampered her active lifestyle.
Outside of her home in Ely she has had a “shop” building where she has had several looms set up for the purpose of weaving rag rugs for customers and others she sold at the Ely Farmers Market on Tuesdays throughout the summer months. Add to that the Blueberry Arts Festival and in the fall, the Harvest Moon Festival for where she displays her wares.
Recently Joann wandered into the Brandenburg Art Gallery. One particular large photo caught a wolf with an injured paw. Although not into wall hangings, she thought she might try doing a rug with the same theme as Jim Brandenburg. Satisfied with the result, she decided it was worth creating a wall hanging.
She has her own kitchen for cardamom bread and other baking for the Farmers Market and customers.
Born in 1931 to Milton and Mable Nelson, Joan’s first husband was Harvey Carlson. With him she had two daughters. She tragically lost a brother in an airplane accident.
Joann spent her working life as an LPN. The years she spent in Ely, she was active in the Ladies of Kaleva and the Ely Senior Citizens. All of this still when she was in her 90s.
When asked how she has lived so long and continued to be so active, she replied, “Stubbornness, I guess. And the Good Lord. And getting enough sleep!” (She is in bed by 8:30 p.m. every night.)
