Elmer Jacob “Jake” Yliniemi, of Osage, MN departed earthly life on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN at the age of 96 years, and 71 days. Jake was born on October 9, 1926, at home in Toad Lake Township, MN to Samuel and Hilda (Kippola) Yliniemi. The Yliniemi’s only spoke Finnish, and when Jake attended country school he quickly learned English. Later in life earned his GED. With a family of 14 everyone had a job; Jake was the dishwasher, hunter, and tended the sheep. Before he was 16, he went to the west coast with his friend Bea Kangas working in the shipyards on the gun turrets. After WWII ended, he returned to Minnesota and traveled with Kenneth Korpi to work in the copper mines of Montana. When they returned to Minnesota, Jake again searched for work; Alexander Construction was rebuilding old Hwy 34 near Snellman. Jake asked for a job and was turned down because he was too young. Two workers were trying to lift a large rock out of a trench, and Jake hopped into the trench and tossed it out all by himself; that is how his career in road construction began.