 He was born in Uurainen, Central Finland and died in Myllykoski.Viitanen also won five medals in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with a gold in the 4 × 10 km relay (1954), a silver in the 15 km (1954), and bronzes in the 50 km (1954, 1958) and the 4 × 10 km relay (1958).He also won the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1956.