Sarah Pelto

Born October 21, 1933, in Munising, a daughter of Walter and Idabelle (Perry) Livermore, Sarah was raised in Munising until age 9 when the family moved to Marquette. Shortly after moving to Marquette, and during the polio epidemic, Sarah was diagnosed with a leg disability that was originally thought to be polio. Local physician, Dr. Elzinga, was able to diagnose the problem as osteomyelitis, a bone infection, which was eating away at her legbone. In 1942, Penicillin was being produced but was strictly available for use in the military during World War II. Dr. Elzinga wanted to try the vaccine on Sarah and petitioned President Roosevelt, who also had polio, for permission to receive penicillin doses for Sarah. President Roosevelt referred the letter to his wife, Eleanor, who put the wheels in motion for Sarah to receive the vaccine. She is believed to be the first person in the Upper Peninsula to receive penicillin. Spending much of her youth in the hospital, Sarah received the necessary doses of the vaccine, several times a day. She never missed a grade in school as some of her grade school classes were facilitated by the teaching sisters at St. Michael Catholic School, bringing her lessons to the hospital for Sarah to complete. She later graduated from Bishop Baraga High School in 1951. During her final year in high school, Sarah began what would become a long working career. She sold tickets at the Nordic Theater and later, following graduation, was employed in sales at the Delft Theater. Like so many other young Marquette women of her time, Sarah was also employed as a telephone operator with Bell Telephone.

On January 22, 1955, Sarah was united in marriage to Leslie Pelto, and together the couple made their home in Marquette where they raised four children. While the children were young, she was a stay-at-home mom, and only when they were in school did she go to work for Raish Oil Company for seven years. After the children had graduated and were on their own, Les and Sarah purchased the Halfway Tavern at the Halfway Location. Les, a skilled carpenter, renovated the house and the couple relocated to Halfway Location where Sarah ran the tavern and Les continued with his carpentry and construction projects. After 17 years, the couple sold the tavern and decided to stay at the Halfway Location.

In 1994, Sarah was elected Powell Township Supervisor, a position she held until 2006. During his time, she enjoyed serving the citizens of Powell Township and made herself available to those she was sworn to serve. During her tenure, she assisted with countless township meetings, worked on the proposals for the new county road, water and septic considerations, and saw the construction of the new township fire department facility. She enjoyed serving with her co-workers and was elected to the State Board of Township Supervisors in Lansing. Over the years, Sarah received many awards and commendations for her work on behalf of the township and was named Supervisor of the Year in 2001 at an award ceremony at NMU.

Sarah liked to keep busy and as a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Big Bay, she joined the church knitters on Mondays for their ministry of knitting hats, mittens, scarves, and socks for the those who needed them. These knitted items were distributed to residents at Room at the Inn, Janzen House, Women’s Center, Powell Township School, and even as far as a school in Colorado that had a number of disadvantaged students. She especially enjoyed family gatherings, going out to eat, and the Friday night fish fries with her children. And, even at age 89, Sarah still mowed her four-acre lawn by herself, because she liked to keep busy.

Sarah is survived by her children, Susan Moore, Kathy (Jeffery) Argall, and Daniel (Tonya Beerman) Pelto; 11 grandchildren and 16 plus great-grandchildren; her sisters, Sally Johnson, Dorothy Lancour, Mary Raven, and Charlotte King; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie in 2015; a son, Leslie in 2024; sons-in-law, Michael Moore and Bill Hubler; sisters, Ida Peterson and Betty Livermore; her brother, Walter Livermore; brothers-in-law, Gerald Johnson, Harvey Lancour and Lloyd Peterson.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Mary Catholic Church in Big Bay on Friday, April 11, beginning at 12:00 noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 pm with Rev. Brandon Oman, pastor, as celebrant. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Interment will be made in the Park Cemetery, Marquette.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.