Obituaries

Aug 30, 2021

Virgil Wayne Stahlberg, age 84 of Iron died Monday, August 30, 2021 in Heritage Manor in Chisholm. He was born June 28, 1937 in Strathcona, MN the youngest son of Marvin and Tina (Olson) Stahlberg. Virgil was raised on the family farm in Strathcona, and moved to the Iron Range in 1955. Virgil married Linda Lehman on October 7,...

Aug 30, 2021

Thomas Neale Tomlinson, age 77 of Tower died August 30, 2021 in St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. He was born June 24, 1944 in Chicago, the son of Raymond and Anne (Remback)Tomlinson; and served in the and served in the United State Army. Tom was employed as a truck driver for Georgia Pacific and Ideal Industrial Supply...

Aug 23, 2021

Lorraine Bernadette Connerton "Loni" was born and raised in New Port, Rhode Island, where she spent her childhood at the beach and local soda shops and diners. Norm spent his time in the Navy aboard the destroyer, USS Arcadia AD-23 serving as a Boiler technician. He was later stationed in New Port, Rhode Island, where he met...

Aug 17, 2021

Russell H. Gibson of Pine City passed away peacefully with his daughter: Sheila and grandchildren: Ashley, Trinity, and Ashton at his side on Monday, August 16, 2021.  He was 82.  Russell was born April 7, 1939, in Slate, VA, the son of Stewart and Myrtle (Horne) Gibson.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, and playing...

Aug 14, 2021

Carol L. Staples, age 71, longtime resident of Cherry died Saturday, August 14, 2021, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's, in Duluth.  She was born January 13, 1950, in Two Harbors, MN, the daughter of Emmert and Dorothy (Sandness) Johnson.  She was a graduate of Two Harbors High School.  Carol was united in marriage to Gary H. Staples in...

Aug 13, 2021

Christine Louise (Fredrickson) Springhetti passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at the age of 89.

She was born Dec. 4, 1931, in Virginia, Minn., to Ray and Mary (Jenia) Fredrickson.

She was known for her love of entertaining and her knack for storytelling.

Cooking meals for her family and...

Aug 11, 2021

Gwendolyn L. Tibbetts, age 83, longtime resident of Tower died Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at Essentia Health – Virginia.  She was born July 1, 1938, in Wheeler, TX, the daughter of Fredrick and Mary (Funston) Newberry.  Gwen was united in marriage to William B. Tibbetts, Jr. on August 27, 1958, on Nouasseur AFB, Morocco, Africa.

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Aug 10, 2021

Mary Jane Suomala, age 66, longtime resident of Cook, died Tuesday, August 10, 2021, in her home.  She was born March 31, 1955, in Chisholm, MN, the daughter of Hugo and Aileen (Sandback) Suomala.  She was a graduate of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes high school.

Mary is survived by her siblings: Lavina Gilbert of Mt. Iron, MN,...

Aug 9, 2021

Lawrence Edward "Pete" Davis of Ely passed away at Boundary Waters Care Center on August 9th, 2021.  Pete was born in Duluth on August 23rd, 1926 to Herbert and Kaspara "Rose" Davis and grew up on the family dairy farm.  Pete left school shortly after his 16th birthday in 1942 and joined the Merchant Marine. He sailed on the...

Jul 31, 2021

Cynthia Lee (Kamunen) Westby June 18th, 1955-July 31st, 2021

Cindy, 66, of Britt, MN went home to her Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 31st after a long and courageous battle with COPD. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family.

She was born on June 18th, 1955...

Jul 27, 2021

William "Bill" Bruce Berg, 65, of Virginia, died Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at the Waterview Woods in Eveleth, MN.

He was born April 25, 1956 in Virginia, the son of Leslie and Shirley (Harris) Berg.  Bill was a graduate of Virginia High School.  He was employed at US Steel, worked numerous years at Iron Trail...

Jul 22, 2021

David Brian Pavlich, age 67 of Tower died Thursday, July 22, 2021 of complications from Acute Myeloma Leukemia at Vermilion Senior Living in Tower, MN. He was born May 22, 1954 at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Chicago IL the son of Jack B. and Evelyn Pavlich. Dave graduated from Morton West High School in 1972.  After graduation, Dave...

Jul 20, 2021

Robert (Bob) Joseph Champa Jr., 70, of Ely, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 20, 2021.

He was born to parents Robert and Helen Champa on October 30, 1950 in Winton, Minnesota.

He graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1969 and went on to study...

Jul 18, 2021

Kenneth Siebert, age 82 of Virginia, died Sunday, July 21, 2021 at the Waterview Pines in Virginia. Ken was born November 24,1938 in Thief River Falls, the son of Paul and Alma (Rausch) Siebert, and grew up on the family farm in Goodridge, MN.  He enlisted in the United Sates Army and served from 1958 until 1961. Ken married...

Jul 18, 2021

Sally Ilene Christopherson, age 81 of Lake Vermilion – Tower, died Sunday, July 18, 2021 at Edgewood Vista Senior Living Center in Virginia. She was born September 27, 1939 in Virginia the daughter of Roy and Ruth (Salminen) Rankila; was a graduate of Virginia Roosevelt High School, Class of 1956; and earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of...

Jul 17, 2021

Robert Charles Clemons, age 62, of Cedar Valley died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, July 17, 2021 in his home.  He was born February 3, 1959 in Hibbing, the son of Casper and Jennie (Maki) Clemons.  He was a graduate of Hibbing High School where he lettered in swimming.

Bob worked as a...

Jul 17, 2021

Eugene "Gene" A. Mielke passed on July 17th into the afterlife, surrounded by his family and accompanied by his lord and savior. He was born to Lawrence and Cecelia (Krenz) Mielke at their family home in St Paul, MN, on 5/11/1934, the fourth of five children.

He is preceded in death by his...

Jul 12, 2021

Marlyn Lowell Meckola, age 93 of Parkville, died Monday, July 12, 2021 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 29, 1927 in Meadow Township, MN the son of John and Meta (Burgau) Meckola, attended District 52 school, and joined the Merchant Marines at age 17, serving in the South Pacific. He enlisted in the United...

Jul 9, 2021

Dennis "Starcie" Starcevich, age 83 of Virginia, died Friday, July 9, 2021 at Essentia - St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.  He was born November 1, 1937 in Grand Rapids, the son of John and Fern (Clusiau) Starcevich.  He married Janet Orazem on Aug. 29, 1959, and they traveled around the world with the Military from 1959...

Jul 2, 2021

Renee Ann Ridgeway, 59, of Hibbing, went to be with her Lord & Savior after passing away peacefully on July 2nd 2021,  at the University of Minnesota Medical Center- Minneapolis, primarily due to complications from transplanted lung rejection. Renee was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, November 4th, 1961, the first child of Fred and Phyllis Angelo....