Obituaries

Oct 16, 2025

Ruth Margareta (Holmio) Koski, age 97 of Virginia, died Thursday, October 16, 2025 at the Virginia Care Center.  She was born March 7, 1928, the daughter of Dr. Armas K.E. and Lydia (Mackey) Holmio, in Turku, Finland.  She graduated from Barnstable High School in Hyannis, MA, attended Suomi College, and graduated from Michigan Tech University with a BS in...

Oct 13, 2025

Kenneth Albert Strong, Jr. "Niigaanigaaniimiikaang" age 56 of Tower died Monday, October 13, 2025 in the Cook Hospital. He was born August 28, 1969 at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota; the son of Kenneth Sr. and Isabelle Burnside. Ken was a collector of knives, guns, guitars, jewelry, and tactical gear. He had a great...

Oct 7, 2025

JoAnn Frances Norenberg, age 81, longtime resident Hibbing, MN, died Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in her home with family at her side.  She was born March 4, 1944, the daughter of Jerald and Annabelle (Lattimer) Daniels.  In 1962 JoAnn graduated from Hibbing High School.  On April 7, 1962 she married the love of her life Gary Norenberg....

Sep 30, 2025

Merrill Davidson, age 94, longtime resident of Side Lake, MN, and formerly of Hibbing, MN, and Fridley, MN, died Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in his home with family at his side.  He was born May 23, 1931, in North Dakota, the son of Pat and Dorothy (Holcomb) Davidson.  A Veteran of the US Air Force, Merrill served...

Sep 27, 2025

Margaret Jeanette (Johnson) Roskoski, lifelong resident of Virginia, passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Edgewood Assisted Living Facility at the age of 90.

She was born on July 29, 1935, to Arthur and Genevieve (Wrobleski) Johnson.  Margaret graduated from the Virginia High School in 1953 and attended the Virginia Junior and University...

Sep 25, 2025

John Peter Maninga (77) of Big Lake, MN and formerly of Hoyt Lakes, MN, died on September 25, 2025.  He was born to Walter and Verna (Wehmes) Maninga on September 5, 1948, in Menahga, MN.  He graduated from Cherry High School and in 1972 he married Patricia Jean Volney in Virginia, MN.

John worked as...

Sep 23, 2025

Flora Matilda (Salmela) Hietala, 98, of Hibbing, MN passed away peacefully on 09/23/2025 at Cornerstone Villa in Buhl, MN.

Flora was born on May 18, 1927, in Sebeka, MN to Charles and Melia Salmela. She was the youngest and only girl in the family with older brothers Arnold, Alvin, Rueben, Art, Harry, Chester, and Melvin....

Sep 19, 2025

Dale George Saari, age 82 of Palo, died September 19, 2025, in Aurora at the Northern Pines Nursing Home under hospice care, surrounded by his family. Dale was born February 4, 1943, in San Francisco, CA and moved to Northern Minnesota where he was a longtime resident. He graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1961, attended...

Sep 18, 2025

Marjorie Jean "Marge" McPeak age 90 of Tower, MN, passed away September 18, 2025. She was born January 21, 1935, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, daughter of Dr. Thomas H. "Harry" and Lola (Saundercook) Seldon. Marge attended Rochester High School, and then U of Minnesota where she graduated with a library science degree. She was employed by Hennepin...

Sep 5, 2025

Tara Marie Schumacker, age 35, passed away as a result of a car accident on Friday, September 5, 2025. She was born on March 8, 1990, in Maplewood, Mn., the daughter of Gary and Domonique (Nicky Gornick) Schumacker.

Tara was employed by the Comfort Inn in Mt.Iron, as a desk clerk, and attended college at...

Sep 4, 2025

Orvis P. Bjerklie, 85, of Cherry, MN, passed away on September 4, 2025, with his family by his side. He was born on July 18, 1940, to Clarence and Josie (Bergerson) Bjerklie and grew up on the family farm in Trail, MN.

Orvis was a proud member of Local 49 and worked as an Operating...

Sep 3, 2025

Donald (Don) Markwardt, age 97, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025, at Edgewood Assisted Living in Virginia, Minnesota.

He was born on April 14, 1928, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Frederick and Mary Markwardt. Don grew up in Ironton, Minnesota, graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School in 1946 and enlisted in the US Army serving...

Sep 1, 2025

Ileeta Ian Wellander, age 85, of Soudan, MN, died on Monday, September 1, 2025, at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely, MN.  She was born on September 7, 1939, in Rice Lake, WI, the daughter of Kenneth and Christina (Hummer) Thierer.  She grew up in the Milwaukee, WI, area and graduated from high school in 1957. ...

Aug 30, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Stacey Beth Kimball on August 30, 2025, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Stacey was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, and family. We will miss her...

Aug 29, 2025

Kay Marie Hoelscher passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 29, 2025.  Kay was born in Brainerd, MN on March 14, 1946 to George and Marion Cossette.  She graduated from Brainerd High School in 1964 and received her nursing degree from St. Luke's in Duluth, MN in 1967 to begin a lifelong career in nursing.  She married Gordon...

Aug 28, 2025

Mary Jean Podpeskar died on Thursday, August 28, 2025.  She was born on June 12, 1949 to Homer and Marjorie (Moore) Jameson in St Paul, MN.  She graduated from St. Paul Central High School and later married Lee Podpeskar.  Throughout the years they lived in Hawaii, Wausau, WI and Virginia MN.

Mary was the proprietor...

Aug 28, 2025

Milo Von Strom, 76, died Thursday August 28, 2025, in his home.  He was born on September 21, 1948, to Wesley and Harriet (Kroeger) Strom in Blackduck, Minnesota.

Milo was a proud Army Veteran served in Korea in 1967-1968 and Vietnam 1969-1970.  He had a great love for art.  With a master's degree in pottery/...

Aug 23, 2025

James Darwin Bailey, age 59, of Makinen and formerly of Aurora and Fergus Falls, MN, died Saturday, August 23, 2025, in his home.  He was born December 1, 1965, in Aurora, MN, the son of Darwin and Joyce (Harder) Bailey.  He was a graduate of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School and went on to receive his...

Aug 14, 2025

John Lamolli, 83, of Vermillion Township, passed peacefully in his sleep and woke up reunited with his heavenly Father on August 14, 2025. John was born June 14, 1942, in New York, NY to Juan and Hilda (Guzman) Lamolli. His strong personal character and resilience were developed growing up on the streets of New York City.  That...

Aug 13, 2025

Norman James Harrington, age 87 of Virginia, MN died Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, MN. He was surrounded by family and died due to complications with a long battle with cancer. He was born June 27, 1938 in Durand, MI the son of James and Elinor (Schlaack) Harrington and grew up...