Obituaries

Jan 5, 2016

Donna Lee Helgeson, age 55 of Iron passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016 in the Essentia Care Center-Virginia with her family at her side, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born October 26, 1960 in Burlington, WI the daughter of Omar and JoAnna (Miller) Heineman, grew up in Hibbing and was a 1978 graduate of...

Dec 22, 2015

LeRoy A. "Bud" Olson, 92, of Lincoln, NE, and formerly of Hibbing, passed away December 22, 2015. Bud was born July 22, 1923 in Grand Forks, ND to Alfred and Evelyn (McDonald) Olson. Bud was a WWII U. S. Navy Veteran. Bud was a loving father, grandfather, devoted friend, dedicated professional, and an honorable man. He stood...

Dec 17, 2015

Thomas Charles Galatz, age 50 of West Eveleth, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015 at his home, with his caring staff by his side under the direction of the Essentia- East Range Hospice Team. He was born March 31, 1965 in Hibbing, the son of Thomas and Susan (Porter) Galatz. Tom retired from the East Range Developmental...

Dec 14, 2015

Karen Marie Pecha, age 63 of Clear Lake – Ely passed away Monday, December 14, 2015 in the Essentia St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. She was born February 21, 1952 in Chicago, IL the daughter of Russell and Marcella (Litwicki) Bruce and was a graduate of Carl Scherz High School. Karen worked in several grocery stores in Chicago,...

Dec 6, 2015

Violet M. Laukkonen, age 86, of Virginia and formerly of Sparta, Duluth, and Grand Rapids, died Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the Essentia Health Care Center in Virginia. She was born February 7, 1929, in Balsam Township the daughter of Anton and Tyme Salo. She graduated from Grand Rapids High School and went on to receive her...

Dec 5, 2015

1-888-579-7953 Code: 74804P

Aaron John Rost, age 36, longtime resident of Hibbing died Saturday, December 5, 2015, in his home. He was born April 11, 1979, in Grand Rapids, MN the son of Charles and Jane (Renskers) Rost. He attended Hibbing High School. Aaron liked to work with his hands and held a variety of...

Dec 2, 2015

Kenneth Gordon Hartz, Sr., age 78, of Virginia went home to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at Evergreen Terrace in Grand Rapids. He was born October 8, 1937, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Gordon and Vivian (Strong) Hartz. He attended schools in Minneapolis. A veteran of the US Navy, Ken served as a...

Nov 29, 2015

Joyce Maureen Ritchie, age 71 of Hoyt Lakes, died Sunday, November 29, 2015 in her home of natural causes. She was born May 16, 1944 in St. Louis County, the daughter of Kenneth and Greta Gulbranson, and lived in Hermantown and Proctor prior to moving to Hoyt Lakes about 10 years ago. Joyce enjoyed fishing, tending to her yard,...

Nov 25, 2015

Lucille T. Erchul, age 82 of Virginia died Wednesday, November 25, 2015 in her home. She was born December 19, 1932 in Virginia the daughter of Frank and Rosalie (Lasky) Andrezcjczyk. Lucille was employed as a telephone operator in Virginia, transferred to Los Angeles, and later returned to Virginia. She married Donald J. Erchul on November 13,...

Nov 25, 2015

Mary Elizabeth Meyer, age 71 of Mountain Iron died Wednesday, November 25, 2015 in St. Luke's Hospice in Duluth. She was born September 21, 1944 in Collins, Ohio the daughter of Lory and Edna (Skinn) Arnold and married Cletus Meyer. Mary had many jobs in her lifetime, she enjoyed creating and selling jewelry & handmade woodwork items. She was...

Nov 21, 2015

Vera Ellen Thran, age 95, of Hibbing and formerly of Big Falls and Mizpah, died Saturday, November 21, 2015, in her home with her daughter at her side. She was born January 11, 1920 in London, England, the daughter of Thomas and Florence (Cook) Mepham. She graduated from High School in Coburg, Australia. Vera was united in marriage to...

Nov 21, 2015

Bernard G. West, age 72, longtime resident of Mt. Iron and Virginia, died Saturday, November 21, 2015, at Essentia Health Hospital in Virginia. He was born August 12, 1943, in Virginia, the son of James O. and Swanhild (Wold) West. He graduated from Virginia High School where he was a goaltender for the hockey team. A veteran of the...

Nov 15, 2015

Ronnie Lee Muster, age 73 of Lake Vermilion – Tower died Sunday, November 15, 2015 at his home in the care of East Range Hospice after a lengthy, well fought battle with cancer. He was born November 1, 1942 in Kansas City, MO, his parents were Joseph J. and Lillie M. (Ransin) Muster, was a graduate of Gilbert High...

Nov 14, 2015

Averille Ruth Lislegard, age 86 of Embarrass died Saturday, November 14, 2015 in the Edgewood Vista Care Community. She was born December 5, 1928 in Tuttle, North Dakota, the daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Thorne) Knepper, and attended Badger, MN Schools. She married Ingvald Emanuel Lislegard on April 29, 1947 in Pinecreek, MN. They lived in Roseau, farmed west...

Nov 11, 2015

Lucille Carol Braaten, age 92 of Virginia died Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Edgewood Vista Memory Care Unit in Virginia. She was born on December 25, 1922 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the daughter of Harold and Clara (Halversen) Hendrickson. She attended the Eau Claire schools and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1944. Following graduation she...

Nov 8, 2015

Julie Ann Harris Hildreth, age 49 of Babbitt, died tragically, Sunday, November 8, 2015 as the result of domestic violence. She was born June 2, 1966 in Ely, the daughter of Curtis and Janice (Couillard) Harris and was a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Babbitt. Julie was employed as a nurse's aide at the Ely Bloomenson...

Oct 19, 2015

Mary Kay McDowell, 102, of Chisholm, passed away on October 19, 2015, at Heritage Manor in Chisholm Mary was the daughter of John and Antonia (Knaus) Koshere of Chisholm, and was a lifelong resident of Hibbing and Chisholm. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by son: Clayton (Cindy) McDowell of Eagle River, Alaska; daughter: Beverly...

Oct 15, 2015

1-888-579-7953 Code: 74804P

Peter Michael Hydukovich, age 63, lifelong resident of Hibbing, died Thursday, October 15, 2015, in his home following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born May 23, 1952, in Hibbing the son of Leonard and Georgia (Hocking) Hydukovich. Peter graduated from Hibbing High School. Peter was a Veteran of...

Oct 4, 2015

Anthony F. "Tony" Perpich, age 97, of Virginia, died Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Essentia Health Convalescent Care Center in Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was born March 26, 1918 in Aurora, MN to Croatian immigrants, Anton and Mary (Blazevic) Perpich. He attended Aurora schools, after which he worked in the CCC Camps, the Lake and Hull Rust...

Oct 1, 2015

Larry Eugene Wiitala, age 63 a lifelong resident of Mountain Iron died Thursday, October 1, 2015 in the Essentia Health Center Virginia after a long but courageous battle with leukemia. He was born May 20, 1952 in Williston, ND the son of Russell and Louella (Samuelson) Wiitala, attended Mountain Iron Schools and received his degree in carpentry...