Theresa Mikkola, 87, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2017, due to complications from a fall, at her home with her family surrounding her. She was under the care of Encompass Hospice.

She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 23, 1929, to Albert and Antoinette (Ronca) Steinkrauss. She was the youngest of three children. She attended most of her schooling in Quincy and Boston, where she took classes in business machines.

Theresa loved the ocean and had many happy years of her childhood by the sea. She spent the summers with her family, taking trips to the beach.

She met her husband, Warren Mikkola, in Quincy, Massachusetts. They were married on December 4, 1948. In 1950, they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho. They were blessed with two beautiful sons:  Andrew "Andy" and Fredrick "Freddy" and also four beautiful granddaughters:  Jamie (Damian) Van Camp of South Carolina, Rikki (Aaron) Quick of South Carolina, Andria (Walker) Spruell of South Carolina, and Lindsay Rose of Denver, Colorado.

Theresa loved her family so very much. They brought so much happiness into her life. Together they enjoyed many outdoor activities; fishing, rock hunting, traveling and finding antiques.

She worked for several contractors over the years. During that time, she was a computer satellite operator at the reactor site, and then a Senior Administrator in Financial Services, payroll and accounting at the INL offices in Idaho Falls. She retired in 1995.

She is survived by her son Freddy, her grandchildren, and her sister, Mary Steinkrauss, of Quincy, Massachusetts.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Francis Steinkrauss; her husband, Warren Mikkola; and her son, Andrew Mikkola.

Theresa was a member of the Catholic church.

In lieu of flowers, she asked that a donation be made in her name to help the animal shelters and Humane Societies near you.