Ida Markkanen (neé Rissanen) was born in Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland on 12th of September 1907 as the seventh child of Olli Juhonpoika and Ida Rissanen. She had four sisters and five brothers. Her parents also raised her niece Alice Wellamo, the daughter of her sister Aliina, as the child of their own and because Alice was born in 1913 she was like a sister to Ida.

Ida's parents were originally from Kontiolahti, North Karelia from where they moved to Kotka in 1906, year before Ida's birth. Because Kotka was a growing seaport it was a natural option for Ida's parents to find work and to maintain their growing family. Sadly her parents passed away before they could see their daughter to start a family.

Ida Rissanen met her forthcoming husband Arvo Abelinpoika Markkanen, who himself was born in Kotka, and they were wedded on 14th of March 1931 in Kotka. Their first child, a daughter Raija Tuulikki Markkanen was born in Kotka on 22nd of December 1931 but sadly she died of tuberculosis at the age of six in Lahti, Päijät-Häme on 30th of May 1938. Ida never really got over the death of her first-born child and only daughter.

Their second child, a son Terjo Tapani Markkanen was born in Kotka on 23rd of April 1934 and the young family moved to Lahti a year later because of Arvo's occupation as shop assistant.

In Lahti, the couple's second son Ilpo Sakari Markkanen was born on the 28th of January 1939. In autumm the Second World War broke out but luckily Arvo didn't have to serve on the war. He was spared because he had an important possition in the Cooperative Society of Finland. During the Second World War the family moved the Turtola, Lappland where Arvo became the chief executive officer of the Torniolaakso Cooperative Enterprise. Ida was a housewife and she didn't have a profession.

When the Lappland War broke out in 1944 young Terjo was sent to live with his paternal grandparents Abel and Venla Markkanen and the rest of the family fleed to Sweden. Terjo lived with his grandparents until the family reunion in 1948 when Arvo received the possition of the chief executive officer of the Osuusliike Oma (a cooperative enterprise) at Ikaalinen, Pirkanmaa, Western Finland. Ida's and Arvo's third son Arimo Uolevi Markkanen was born in Turtola, Lappland on the 11th of February 1947.

During the 1950's Ida and Arvo built a summer house to Kyröskoski, Pirkanmaa where they spent many summers with family and friends. After Arvo's retirement the couple returned to Kotka where they lived the rest of their lives, spenting time with their children and grandchildren.

Ida Markkanen died of heart attack at the age of 61 on the 1st of December 1968, leaving her husband Arvo as a widower. She was buried to Parikka Cemetery, Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland on one snowy day of December. During her life she and her husband withdraw from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in the 1930's. They returned to the church in the 1960's and therefore Ida and Arvo are buried to christian graveyard. Their children however were never baptized.