Three persons on the Filpus family tree sailed on the Titanic:
Reverend and Mrs. Lahtinen were returning from a visit to
Finland, accompanying her cousin Lyyli, who was immigrating to the
United States. They were sailing in second class and reached a
lifeboat after the collision with the iceberg. The Reverend was
not allowed on the lifeboat, because the lifeboats were woman and
children only at the time. Anna would not leave her husband. Lyyli
watched them on the deck as the lifeboat lowered. She remembered
that the Reverend stood stoically with a cigar clenched in his
teeth. Other survivors described the Reverend comforting those on
the deck as the ship sank. Their bodies were not found. Lylli
arrived in New York on the Carpathia. She went to stay
with Anna's brother Carl A Silfven and his wife Anna Lydia
(Filpus) Silfven in Hancock Michigan.
Reverend Lahtinen had taken the post as Pastor in Cokato
Minnesota. He contracted the building of a parsonage for his
family. While the home was being built, Reverand, Anna and their
daughter Martta went to Finland to visit family and then accompany
Lyyli back to the United States. During the visit, Martta took ill
and died. They rebooked their return trip after the funeral and
ended up on the Titanic. Before they left, the Reverend published
a memorium:
IN MEMORY OF MARTHA LAHTINEN
From: "Streams of Life" by Carl Kulla
To our dear friends in America, Finland and
elsewhere, we notify that our beloved daughter, Martha Agnes, had
the good fortune to early leave that land of many enticements of
sin, of temptations and of troubles on March 10, at the age of 4
1/2 years. When we arrived at Kemi on our trip to Finland she
became ill with brain fever, which in about 3 weeks destroyed her
earthly tabernacle, freeing her glorified spirit to return to God
who had given it. It was joyous and comforting to see now her
heart was moved, even unto tears, when we spoke to her of the
blessedness and joy of God's children before the throne of God
with the angels and the elect.
Although her body was very weak at the end, and
she had pains, she bore this her portion of worldly tribulation
with contentment. But now she is free from all trouble; she is no
longer in pain or sickness, nor is it difficult for her to
breathe, as she lamented in her pain. No longer does her breast
heave with signing .........
Anna & William Lahtinen
From "Siionin Lahetyslehti" April, 1912