Iona "Tracy" Mary Stoddard, 99, formerly of Tower and Hibbing, died July 16, 2026 in Duluth, MN with her family by her side.

She was born in Sheldon, Iowa on 8/28/1926.

Tracy's life is inspiring because even though both her parents and beloved sister  died young, Tracy lived a beautiful and long life, almost to age 100, having survived cancer twice.

Tracy worked as a telegraph interpreter for Western Union, traveling and working in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Detroit during World War II, often delivering strategic messages from the war.

After marrying and moving to Duluth, she and her husband ran the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, where she was a ballroom dance instructor when live big bands were popular. The love of dance remained with her and she danced on her 98th birthday and always enjoyed following "Dancing With the Stars."

She married the love of her life, Irving Stoddard on April 3, 1971 and in 1979 the couple built their remote home on Lake Vermilion, Tower, near Glenwood Lodge, where they spent thirty happy years living in the remote wilderness and entertaining family and friends.  She was kind and generous to the many visitors and neighbors that would stop in from the lake or from down the Mud Creek Road.

Tracy enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing Scrabble, making wildflower arrangements and singing in the St. James Presbyterian Choir. She could complete a whole book of crossword puzzles in pen in one afternoon.

Tracy is survived by her step-sons, Craig (Paula) Stoddard of Rockland, WI; Peter (Patti) Stoddard of Duluth, her niece, Kelly (Mike) Flaherty, of Glendale, CA; step-grandchildren Ian (Cara) Stoddard, Appleton, WI; Lt. Col. Kalen (Jenna) Stoddard, USAF, Tomah, WI; Rachel (Will) (Stoddard) DeRocher, Duluth; five step-great grandchildren, and special friends Jan and Jerry Tutsky, Pat Peter, Bonnie and Dick Seibert, Grant Andreasen, Lila Curis and her other friends at the Lee Center in Hibbing.  She is preceded in death by her beloved sister, Ruth Roselda, and parents, Phillip Edwin Tracy and Blanche Iona Wells Tracy.

As per Tracy's wishes, there will be a private family burial at the Lakeview Cemetery in Tower.  The family is grateful to Greg Anderson at the Anderson-Daniels, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, Hibbing, and Duluth Essentia Hospice.