Obituaries

Mar 17, 2026

Marshawne Renae Dorstad Geisdorf, 54, passed away March 17,2026 at her home in Aurora, MN.  Surrounded by family and friends.  Her family called her Shawne for short.  Shawne was born on July 4th, 1971, at St Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd, MN to Aller Dorstad and Karen Dorstad Bovee.

Shawne graduated from Mesabi East High School...

Mar 15, 2026

Norman John Skur, aged 78, of Virginia, Minnesota died on Sunday March 15, 2026, at The Waterview Pines in Virginia. He was born on January 11, 1948, to George and Alice (Johnson) Skur. Norm graduated from Cook High School in 1966. On February 8, 1969, he married the love of his life Faith Svedberg in Cook, MN....

Mar 14, 2026

Molly A. "Toots" Korpi, 94 of Soudan, passed away with her son Michael by her side on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Vermilion Senior Living in Tower, MN.

She was born on November 6, 1931, in Ely, MN, the daughter of Louis and Anna (German) Fink, Sr.  She graduated from Ely Memorial High School...

Mar 12, 2026

Patricia Lavonne Helmberger, age 90, died peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Tower, Minn. having suffered for several years with a series of health complications.

Patricia, who went by Pat, was born on July 22, 1935, in Lengby, Minn., the youngest of six children born to William and Eva Stave (Hilliard). Both her father and...

Mar 6, 2026

James "Jim" Anderson passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on March 6, 2026. Born and raised in Tower, Minnesota, Jim moved with his family to West Virginia, Minnesota in 1951, before returning to Tower in 1957, which was his lifelong home.

He started his career as a delivery driver for Lamppa's Dairy, then joined...

Mar 6, 2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of  Colleen Marie Rahier, age 73, of Chisholm Friday, March 6, 2026, in her home with family at her side.  She was born August 31, 1952, in Hibbing, the daughter of Kenneth and Darlene (Berg) Willett.  She grew up in Angora and Hibbing, then raising her family...

Mar 1, 2026

Michael August Tuomala Jr died one day short of his 87th birthday. He passed away peacefully on Sunday March 1, 2026 after a long journey with cancer. "Little Mickey" was born on March 2, 1939 to Michael August Sr and Violet (Korpi) Tuomala. He was the proud father to Laura (Scott) Shikowsky, Michael G. Tuomala, Pamela (Rick) Walton and...

Feb 24, 2026

Linda K. Carpenter, age 80, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026, surrounded by her family at her home.  She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November of 2024.  She fought like a warrior.

She was born May 20, 1945, in Hibbing, the daughter of Carroll "Lindy" and LaMae (Belschner) Schloesser.  She was a graduate...

Feb 22, 2026

Carla Ruth Squires 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at River Grand Assisted Living in Grand Rapids, MN.

Carla was born in Buyck, MN on January 2, 1941, to Carl and Margaret (Ross) Hanson. She grew up in Buyck, graduated from the Orr High School in 1959 and completed...

Feb 21, 2026

Coleen Euphrosyne Summers peacefully passed away on Saturday February 21, 2026, at the age of 62. She was born on May 17, 1963, in Chicago, IL, to Dale and Arlene (Lehtonen)

Coleen cherished her family and friends, always lending an ear to listen or a hand to help. Known for her love of music, animals,...

Feb 19, 2026

John M. Bratt - beloved husband, father, and grandfather - peacefully left this world February 19, 2026.  Born in Eveleth, MN on May 8, 1935 to Lawrence and Leone Bratt, John was a 1953 graduate of Eveleth Highschool and went on to earn a Mining Engineering degree at the University of Minnesota.

John married Mary...

Feb 19, 2026

Phyllis Irene (Paulson) Starich, age 79 of Virginia, died Thursday, February 19, 2026 at the Essentia Health - Virginia Hospital.  She was born on February 24, 1946 in Milwaukee, WI to Medford and Tekla Irene (Anderson) Paulson.  She was a 1964 graduate of the Virginia High School and earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Bemidji...

Feb 16, 2026

Terry Allan (Cha/Uncle Tooty) Martinson, Jr., age 57, died during an epileptic seizure in his home. He was born to Terry Allan, Sr., and Nancy (Ostman) Martinson on May 16, 1968, and he died on February 16, 2026.

Terry attended Mt. Iron and Mt. Iron-Buhl Public Schools. One of his classmates gave him the nickname...

Feb 16, 2026

Kathryn E. Salo May 21, 1923 – Feb 16, 2026 Kathy joined her Lord and Savior peacefully at the age of 102 at Edgewood Vista, Virginia, MN. She was born in Spina, MN to Martha and James Squillace the 7th of 13 children. Graduated from Buhl HS and while at a barn dance she saw Rudolph Maki...

Feb 14, 2026

Betty Jean Kilen, 81, of Hibbing, died on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Waterview Pines in Virginia, Mn.

She is survived by her Husband of 62 years, Jon Kelen; Two Daughters: Dawn (Patrick) Angelo and Julie (Peter) Ramfjord; Three Grandchildren: Jon Angelo, Blake Angelo (Ben Litchfield) and Briana (Conner) Nuno; Two Great-Granddaughters: Briley and Payton...

Feb 13, 2026

Angelo Frank Poaletti IV, age 59, died on February 13, 2026, at his home in Eveleth due to natural causes. Born on July 13, 1966, in Eveleth, MN, Angelo graduated from Mt. Iron High School

Angelo served in the Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988.  He lived in the Twin Cities, Arizona, Illinois and eventually...

Feb 11, 2026

Leo L Phaneuf, age 91, passed away February 11, 2026, at St. Mary's Medical Center following a brief illness. Leo was born on November 28, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota. His family moved to Parkville when he was a young boy. Leo's childhood was marred by the death of his father, Russell, in a construction accident when he...

Feb 9, 2026

Phyllis Isaacs passed away on February 9, 2026 with family by her side.  She was born on August 19, 1945 in Wadena, Mn to Elmer and Ellen Patson.

Phyllis grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and moved to Minnesota to attend business school.  She married her husband of 59 years Don Isaacs on January 7, 1967....

Feb 5, 2026

Bruce Clyde Longrie, age 82, of Virginia and formerly of Embarrass, Mt. Iron, Cohasset, Grand Rapids, and Blackberry, MN, died Thursday, February 5, 2026, in his home with family at his side.  He was born April 30, 1943, in Grand Rapids, MN, the son of Victor J. and Ethel J. (Buchanan) Longrie.  He was a graduate of...

Feb 3, 2026

Ruth "Irene" (Pearson) Skoglund, age 94, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Eden Prairie, MN.

Named Ruth Irene, by parents Carl and Florence (Wahlgren ) Pearson,  from infancy to her last day, she answered to the first name, "Irene."  Irene grew up on the Duluth Heights and was a Duluth Central High School Graduate,...