Obituaries

Oct 3, 2023

Patricia Lois Stark passed away on Oct. 3, 2023, at the Diamond Willow care center in Mt. Iron Minnesota. Patricia was born on April 21st, 1932, to LeRoy and Amelia Curtiss in Virginia, Mn.

Patricia attended Roosevelt high school in Virgina and the Virginia community college. She was employed at the city of Virginia and...

Oct 2, 2023

Chad Leslie Guttormson, 53, died Monday, October 2, 2023, at his home in Virginia, MN. Chad was born August 18, 1970, in Robbinsdale, MN, to Leslie and Terri (DePaulis) Guttormson. He graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1988.

Chad held many jobs in his life, including a long career in auto parts sales. He...

Sep 30, 2023

Jacques David LeBlanc, age 35 of Virginia, our beloved son and brother, went to heaven on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. He died from ongoing complications of cancer. He was born September 28, 1988 in Virginia, the son of Jacob and Julie (Vezina) Leblanc. Jacques has been employed at...

Sep 29, 2023

Janice Margaret Fairbanks, age 87, longtime resident of Hibbing died Friday, September 29, 2023, at Guardian Angels in Hibbing.  She was born June 11, 1936, in Keewatin, MN, the daughter of Albert and Signe (Lindberg) Podominick.  She was a graduate and "Queen" of Keewatin High School.  Janice was united in marriage to Dean A. Fairbanks on August...

Sep 15, 2023

Thomas John Turja, age 81 of Virginia died peacefully Friday, September 15, 2023 in Essentia-St. Mary's Medical Center surrounded by is family. He was born October 14, 1941in Biwabik, the son of John and Mildred (Westurn) Turja. He married Darlene Gentile on August 29, 1961 in Virginia. Tom was employed by the City of Virginia for over...

Sep 13, 2023

Donald M. Halunen, age 87, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, surrounded by his loving family in Edgewood Senior Living Community.  He was born November 1, 1935 in the Virginia the son of Mathew and Violet (Nakari) Halunen. Don was an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army.  He married JoAnn Jacobson of Eveleth; and they raised...

Sep 10, 2023

Vernon Carroll Jensen, age 88, passed away on September 10, 2023 at Serving Hart Assisted Living in Chisholm, MN.  Vernon was a lifelong resident of Effie, MN, born on September 12, 1934 to Oscar and Thea (Krogstad) Jensen.  He attended grade school in Effie, MN, and graduated from Bigfork High School.

On June 11, 1955,...

Aug 26, 2023

Joann Milanovich, age 84, of Minneapolis and formerly of Goodland died Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Catholic Elder Care in Minneapolis.  She was born in Goodland on January 20, 1939, the daughter of Louis and Jenny (Malkovich) Milanovich.  She was a graduate of Nashwauk High School.

Joann worked in Washington DC and London doing secretarial...

Aug 26, 2023

Sharon Lee Carlson, age 79 of Babbitt died Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Carefree Living in Babbitt. She was born October 13, 1943 in Blackduck, MN the daughter of Kenneth and Margaret (Hadlock) Clawson and was a graduate of Blackduck High School Class of 1961. In 1962, she married Darwin Lossing and they had their first child,...

Aug 23, 2023

Mark Raymond Phillips, beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, dog-lover, storyteller, public servant, strategic thinker, compassionate leader, economic and community developer and friend peacefully passed away in his sleep on August 23, 2023 at his home on Lake Vermilion in Tower, Minnesota, after spending the day enveloped in the love and caring support of his...

Aug 20, 2023

Shawn Anthony Gerulli, age 48, of Biwabik, passed away unexpectedly, doing what he was most passionate of: Dirt Bike Racing, on Sunday, August 20, 2023.  He was born in love to his parents: Sonny and Robin (Haavisto) Gerulli on July 13, 1975 in Virginia, MN.  He was baptized at the Methodist church in Virginia, MN.

...

Aug 16, 2023

David Conrad Ridgeway, age 69, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at The Emeralds in Grand Rapids, MN, due to complications from cancer.  He was born September 18, 1953, in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada, the son of David and Marina (Margetts) Ridgeway.  While growing up he and his family lived in several states, and then...

Aug 3, 2023

Shelita Renee Tate, age 34, of Hibbing and formerly of Marysville, CA, died unexpectedly Thursday, August 3, 2023, in her home.  She was born February 9, 1989, in Frankfurt, Germany, the daughter of Tara Tate and Kelvin Freeman.  She was a High School Graduate and went on to complete some College courses.

Shelita was a...

Aug 3, 2023

Martin Chupurdia, age 84, longtime resident of Hibbing died peacefully on August 2nd surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 21, 1939 in Hibbing the son of Sam and Betty (Pasich) Chupurdia.

He was a graduate of Hibbing High School, and attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. He also served in the United...

Jul 22, 2023

James Anthony "Jim" Planton, age 76 of Soudan died Saturday, July 22, 2023 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born September 27, 1946 in Virginia, the son of Anthony and Rose (Mertel) Planton, attended Tower- Soudan high school, Mesabi Community College and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Bemidji State University. Jim married...

Jul 12, 2023

Rex Spencer Weatherstone, age 77, of Hoyt Lakes, MN passed away with his family by his side on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Rex was born in Breckenridge, MN on April 17, 1946 to Spencer and Glendora Weatherstone.  He was a Rosholt High graduate of 1964 and went on to attend SDSU.  He retired as a...

Jul 12, 2023

David Scott Akerson, age 73, of Tower, passed away after a difficult battle with COPD on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at his home.

David was born on December 31, 1949 in Willmar, MN to Russell and Glenda (Johnson) Akerson.  David left high school at the age of 17 to join the United States Army.  He...

Jun 30, 2023

Charles Patrick McCauley, age 72, lifelong resident of Hibbing, died Friday, June 30, 2023, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth following a battle with cancer.  He was born November 21, 1950, in Hibbing the son of Bernard and Viola (Brekke) McCauley.   He was a graduate of Hibbing High School, and went on to attend the University of...

Jun 29, 2023

Bradley Andrew Salminen, age 35, longtime resident of Hibbing and Virginia died Friday, June 29, 2023, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.  He was born January 24, 1988, in Hibbing the son of Terry and Deidre (Foster) Salminen.  He was a graduate of Hibbing High School.

Brad worked as a cook in several local restaurants. ...

Jun 24, 2023

Ralph L. Friesner, age 62, longtime resident of Embarrass and formerly of Tower, MN, died Saturday, June 24, 2023, in an automobile accident near his home.  He was born May 29, 1961, in Aurora, MN, the son of Harry and Edna (Story) Friesner.  He was a graduate of Tower-Soudan High School.

Ralph worked as a...