Finau Fatafehi Mila, age 76, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah due to complications from Covid-19. He was the son of Malakai Lavulo and Melenaite Mila and the stepson of Viliami Latu Tu’akihekolo. All three preceded him in death.
Finau was born on June 13,1945 in Nukualofa, Tonga. He attended school there, graduating from Liahona High School in 1967. While there, he was a member of a championship rugby team and served a youth mission. After graduating, he came to Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended Utah Technical College where he earned degrees in Welding and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. He began working for Chicago Bridge and Iron and later, Mark Steel where his extraordinary welding talent led these companies to obtain some highly lucrative contracts to further their businesses. He was especially proud of the work he did on the reconstruction of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. He was also willing to train any young man who had a desire to make a career of welding.
Finau married Barbara Warren in October of1971. They were later sealed for time and all eternity on November, 2007 in the Salt Lake City temple. Finau served in many church positions including a member of the bishopric, member of the stake high council, and high priest’s quorum. But the positions he valued the most were patriarch of the Mila family and Grandpa to the grandchildren.
Finau will be remembered by family and friends for many wonderful things including his generosity, his willingness to help anyone who needed it, his gift of gab, his storytelling, his humor, his words of wisdom, his love of fishing and especially his powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that he is just there, beyond the veil to continue to guide, guard, advise, and protect us in his role as head of the family. He hasn’t left us – he’s just gone fishing.
Survived by his wife Barbara, son Walter Stephen (Hola), and his three grand-children Lulu, Fehi, and Dougie. His sisters, Anau Fainga, Sosepa Mafile’o, Silia Faupula, Pasepa Tukia, Elizabeth Hurrell, Hepisipa Emerton, and Vavatau Lomano. His brothers Talaiasi Tuli, Sione Mila, Nikua Mila, Talietofa Mila, Piela Halatoaongo, and Paula Nunu Lolohea.
Preceded in death by his father Malakai Lavulo, mother Melenaite Mila, and stepfather Viliami Latu Tu’akihekolo.
Services:
Will be held at the Salt Lake Utah Tongan North Stake Center
1621 S. 1100 E.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
Monday March 8, 2021
Viewing 9:00am-11:30am
Bishops Service 12:00pm-1:00pm
Interment: Memorial Estates
We find comfort in knowing that death cannot take away the fond memories we have of you cuz Fehi.
Our thoughts are with you Barbara, Steve, Hola and his precious grandkids and we send you our deepest sympathies. Fehi will be missed and revered by all of us, his Orange Ohana and Lavulo families. ‘Ofa lahi atu, Miti & Amelia from lockdown London
Alaa sioku ta’okete Finau Fatafehi Mila Lavulo, Oku ou salute moe fakaapaapa kiate koe pea oku ou hounga’ia Ko eku mau ha ta’okete fofonga malimali mo fofonga Ofa , Oku ou Fakamalo kihe Tamai Hevani koe taimi naa ne tuku mai ai keta feohi i he mamani .Toka a ihe nonga pea moe fiemalie a etau Tamai Fakalangi he kuo ke ikuna ae tau lelei pea lava’i ae fakapuepue pea kuo ke tatau mai teke foki a koe kihe api kuo teu e he etau Tamai . Ofa atu moe fie kaunga mamahi mooni kia Barbara, Steve moe hoa moe fanga makapuna moe famili kotoa. Ofa atu meia Paula Nunu Faaikea Lolohea moe hoa Ana Lolohea , fanau moe fanga makapuna kotoa.