Obituaries

Jun 9, 2021

Richard Andrew "Rick" Nelson, age 73 a lifelong resident of Tower-Soudan died Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Essentia Health – Virginia Care Center. He was born December 26, 1947 in Soudan, the son of Richard O. and Elsie Bertha (Falk) Nelson; was a graduate of and swam competitively for Tower-Soudan High School, and was a graduate of...

Jun 8, 2021

Debra Kay Stimac, age 66 of Virginia died Tuesday, June 8, 2021 in Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. She was born May 2, 1955 in Brainerd, MN the daughter of Howard and Elizabeth (Johnston) Burleigh.

Debra was a longtime Virginia resident, and married David John Stimac on November 11, 1978. She was a devoted homemaker, who...

Jun 7, 2021

Shirley Maria Sarkela, age 90 of Virginia died Monday, June 7, 2021 in the Waterview Pines. She was born July 3, 1930 in Ely, the daughter of John and Olga (Waris) Kari, was a graduate of Embarrass High School and earned a degree in CSR Supply Management. Shirley lived in Ely, Seattle, Embarrass, and Babbitt prior to moving to...

Jun 4, 2021

Donna Mae Miller, age 90 of Tower died Friday, June 4, 2021 in the Essentia Health Virginia Care Center. She was born July 6, 1930 in Huron, South Dakota, the daughter of Geoffrey and Alice (Anderson) Biggerstaff. Donna lived in Cloquet and Coleraine prior to being a longtime Tower resident. She was employed by the Cluett-Peabody Arrow...

Jun 3, 2021

Susan Marie Johnson, age 70, longtime resident of Hibbing, died Thursday, June 3, 2021, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Mt. Iron, MN.   She was born May 1, 1951, in Hibbing the daughter of Leonard and Georgia(Hocking) Hydukovich. She was a graduate of Hibbing High School and went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Education and...

Jun 2, 2021

Paul David Anderson

July 17, 1941-June 2, 2021

Paul David Anderson was born July 17, 1941 in Soudan, MN.  Paul worked at Erie Mining/LTV and was able to retire after 41.5 years of faithful service.  In true Paul fashion, he took his eternal nap on June 2, just a few weeks...

May 29, 2021

Ray Allen Panula, age 74 of Buhl died unexpectedly on May 29, 2021. He was born February 20, 1947 in Hibbing the son of Taimi and Roy Panula. He was confirmed at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hibbing and attended Hibbing Schools. Ray entered the Navy on 6 JAN 1966 and served on Nightly River Boat...

May 27, 2021

Eleanor Sigrid Johnson, age 87 of Virginia, died Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Edgewood Vista in Virginia. She was born November 19, 1933 in Duluth, the daughter of Iver and Sigrid (Hokkanson) Kjellman and was a 1951 graduate of Proctor High School. Eleanor married Roy E. Johnson on July 31, 1954 in Proctor and they moved to...

May 25, 2021

William (Bill) Ketola passed away May 25th, 2021 in Virginia, MN.  William Charles Ketola was born December 30, 1938 in Virginia, MN to Edmund and Florence Ketola.  Bill graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1957 and attended Macalester College in St. Paul.   On August 5, 1961, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Judith Wallis, at St. Joseph's...

May 22, 2021

Kimberly Renee Anderson, age 42, lost her long struggle with anxiety, alcohol and depression on Saturday, May 22, 2021. She was born July 13, 1978 in Virginia, the daughter of Rodney and Barbara (Christensen) Anderson. Kim was a Class of 1996 graduate of Mountain Iron-Buhl High School, and a graduate of Mesabi Range Community and Technical College,...

May 21, 2021

Timothy "Timmie" Norman, 68, of Britt, MN, passed away on May 21st after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born on August 14, 1952, in Virginia, MN, the son of Thomas and Margie Norman.  After graduating from high school in 1970, he first went on to work in the mines, but that kicked off a 50-year...

May 15, 2021

Colleen Sue Frey, age 65 of Eveleth died Saturday, May 15, 2021 in Essentia Health Virginia Care center. She was born April 3, 1956 in Minneapolis, the daughter of Irv and Esther (Busch) Gartland, was a high school graduate and earned her Bachelor's Degree from St. Cloud State College. Colleen was employed as a Special Education Teacher and a...

May 6, 2021

Lois Marie Asleson, age 86 of Embarrass died Friday, May 6, 2021 in the Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan, WI. She was born April 29, 1935 in Warroad, MN the daughter of William and Marion (Freeman) VanDeHey. She married Albert "Buck" Asleson on July 5, 1952 in Baudette. She lived in Williams, MN, and Aurora,...

Apr 30, 2021

Caroline Boshey, age 82 of Lake Vermilion died Friday, April 30, 2021 in the Cook Care Center. She was born November 26, 1938 in Cook the daughter of Edwin and Bessie (Mesabi) Boshey. Her family was one of the last inhabitants of Indian Island on Burntside Lake, lived in Aurora, moved to International Falls, and they slowly...

Apr 19, 2021

Kylan Reign Pineo, precious infant son of John Carl Pineo and Carly Jean Stephens, was stillborn on April 19, 2021, at the Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing.

Kylan will be missed by his parents: John Pineo and Carly Stephens of Fayal Township; siblings: Blake and Kason Pineo of Fayal Township;  grandparents: Theron (Kelli) Stephens...

Apr 19, 2021

Robert John Nevala (Bob), 89 lifelong resident of Embarrass died April 19, 2021 at Edgewood Vista from brain cancer.  Bob was born to Arthur and Lempi Nevala in Embarrass on September 23,1931 and attended Embarrass High School. On August 31, 1951, Bob and Delores (Dolly) Abelson were married and remained married until her passing September 2, 2015....

Apr 17, 2021

Lois Mae Flood, age 94 of Mountain Iron, died Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the Essential Health Virginia Hospital.  She was born in Superior on September 28, 1926, the daughter of Walter F. and Ruby C. (Peterson) Beck.  Lois grew up in Duluth and graduated from Duluth Central High School, and the Duluth Business College.  She married...

Apr 9, 2021

Donna K. Hill, age 88, lifelong resident of Soudan died Friday, April 9, 2021, at The Waterview Pines in Virginia.  She was born in Soudan, the daughter of Ernest and Mary (Belehar) Branwall.  She was a graduate of Tower-Soudan High School.  A veteran of the US Air Force, Donna served during the Korean War, and was Honorably...

Apr 8, 2021

David Lawrence "Dave" Zelinski, age 72 of Fayal Township died Thursday, April 8, 2021 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born September 17, 1948 in Hamtramck, Michigan the son of Frank V. and Helen (Gargulinski) Zelinski; was a graduate of Sacred Heart Highschool in Roseville, Mi and of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI....

Apr 5, 2021

Mary Workman, age 97, lifelong resident of the Hibbing area, died Monday, April 5, 2021, at her home with family at her side.  She was born August 3, 1923, in Carson Lake, MN, the daughter of Peter and Frances (Klobuchar) Shain.  She was a graduate of Hibbing High School.  Mary was united in marriage to Clayton A....