Vieno Simonen

Vieno Simonen ( Vartiainen; 27 December 1898 – 20 June 1994) was a Finnish politician and farmer. A member of the Agrarian League, she represented Kuopio East in the Parliament of Finland from 1948 to 1962. After serving in deputy ministerial positions in the Kekkonen IV, Törngren, and Fagerholm II cabinets, she was twice appointed as minister of social affairs by prime ministers V. J. Sukselainen and Martti Miettunen, and held the position from 1959 to 1962.

Early life Vieno Vartiainen was born on 27 December 1898 in Peräseinäjoki, Finland. She attended a girls' school until 1914 and trained at a handicraft school in Kuopio. After training as a postal worker in Pulkkila and Iisalmi, she was certified in 1921 and began working at the post office of . She was involved in various organizations, including Lotta Svärd, during the 1940s. She was reappointed to the same position the following year when Ralf Törngren became prime minister. In 1956, prime minister Karl-August Fagerholm selected her as the second minister of agriculture in his second cabinet. As minister, Simonen continued her efforts to reform Finland's social welfare services.

Simonen was a presidential elector in 1950, 1956, and 1962. She did not seek re-election to Parliament in the 1962 elections, but remained active in the Martha organisation.

Death Simonen died on 20 June 1994 in Pyhäselkä, at the age of 95.