Obituaries

Patricia ‘Patti Lou’ Schmid (Akins)

Patricia “Patti Lou” Schmid (Akins) 76, of Embarrass, was received in God’s arms on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Essential Hospital in Duluth surrounded by her loving family.
She was born July 21, 1948, in Soudan the daughter of John and Angela (Vesel) Akins. Pat met the love of her life David in Tower where they were married on 5-14-1966. They built a beautiful life together in Embarrass for the past 47 years. She was the proud owner of Pat’s Hair until her passing.

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Lee Kerber

Elizabeth “Betty” Lee Kerber, 94, of Lafayette, passed away on October 28, 2024 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. 

She was born on June 17, 1930 to the late Homer and Mary (Loy) Spring. Betty graduated from Delphi High School in 1948.  She married Richard Kerber on December, 26, 1953 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Logansport with Monsignor Alchinger officiating. Betty and Dick were married for 70 years, he preceded her in death on October 3, 2024.

Brian H. Murphy

Brian H. Murphy, 75, passed away Tuesday October 11 in Tucson, Arizona. Brian was born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1947 to Daniel J. Murphy and Ruth E. Murphy. He is survived by his brother, wife, son, three daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Brian was a proud man in the construction industry. He dedicated 35 years of his life working with the fine men and women of Sundt Construction. Brian made regular donations to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, a church […]

Donna Mae Miller

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 Shirt Factory and was the cleaning woman for the Tower State Bank and the Tower City Hall. Donna attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in […]

Richard Wayne Miller

Richard Wayne Miller, 79, of Bensalem, PA, formerly of Embarrass, MN, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, PA. Richard was born August 21, 1941 to Wayne and Dolores (Rieber) Miller in Fargo North Dakota, the oldest of 11 children.  Richard was received into heaven by his loving wife and soulmate Norma (Hanson) Miller, his parents, his brothers, Walter, Michael, Timothy, and Brian and many other family members and friends. Richard graduated from the Embarrass […]

Agnes Mesojedec

Agnes Mesojedec, 98, a lifelong resident of Soudan, died March 13, 2022 with family by her side.  She passed at Edgewood in Hermantown where she lived since June, 2021. Ag was born on December 11, 1923, to Helen (Verbon) and Victor Chiabotti.  She attended the Tower-Soudan schools and married the love of her life, Herman Mesojedec on April 20, 1939. They had two sons Paul and Mitch.  She was a forever member of St. Matin’s Catholic Church where she was […]

Carolyn A. McPeak

Carolyn A. McPeak, age 85, longtime resident of Embarrass, MN, died January 3, 2024, at Essentia Health -Virginia Regional Medical Center in Virginia. She was born December 20, 1938, in Sebeka, MN the daughter of Carl and Alice Johnson. She was united in marriage to Charles Reaber McPeak in Sebeka, MN on August 10, 1955. Carolyn was a talented Artisan working with many different materials and formats to create her art.  She also worked for 10 years at the shirt […]

Angela Marie McClelland

Angela Marie McClelland, 49, of Fort Ripley, tragically passed away on June 25, 2023. A Celebration of Angie’s Life will be held at Nelson–Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd with a gathering of family and friends from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, July 22, 2023. Interment will take place at a later date in Gilbert, MN. Angie was born May 24, 1794, to Dean Zumbrunnen and Margo (Cline) Sampsell at White Community Hospital in Aurora, MN. Angie grew up in […]

Sharon Lee Mattson

Sharon Lee Mattson, age 79, of Schaumburg.  Cherished daughter of the late Arvo and Lillian Mattson. Caring sister of Robert (Donna) Mattson. Loving aunt of Jennifer (Ron) and great aunt of Madison and Delaney. Sharon was an Advanced Biology and Chemistry Teacher for District 211 for many years.  She will be dearly missed. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 4:00 p.m. at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 330 W. Golf […]

James Konstantin Marttila

James Konstantin Marttila, age 75, of Rochester and Lake Vermillion, Minnesota died February 8, 2024 at Season’s Hospice House from complications of lung cancer treatment. Jim was born October 25, 1948 in Soudan, Minnesota to Walter Konstantin and Verena Maud (Oliver) Marttila. Jim grew up in Tower, Minnesota living above the family business, Marttila Drug, graduating from Tower High School in 1966 and earning Eagle Scout rank. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of […]

Marilyn Hutchinson Skare

Marilyn H. Skare, age 88, of Tower, MN, and formerly Golden Valley, MN, passed away peacefully with her husband, Robert (“Bob”), by her side on November 25, 2020.  They had been married for over 66 years.   Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Clarissa and Marshall Hutchinson, and her son, Robertson Skare. In addition to successfully raising four rambunctious boys, Marilyn co-founded Hennepin County Food Shelves back in 1970 and ran Westhaven Lodge on Lake Vermilion for over 25 […]

Thomas Owen Macomber

Thomas Owen Macomber was born March 24, 1952, in Soudan, Minnesota to June Louise and James Harold Macomber. Tom grew up in Tower, Minnesota and spent the summers on Lake Vermilion. He enjoyed fishing, hiking, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, camping, and exploring Northern Minnesota. He graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in 1970. He went to the University of Minnesota Duluth, and attended Marine boot camp in Quantico, Virginia. Tom started dating his wife Jeanne (Johnson) in 1971 and they were married […]

Robert Lindgren

Robert Lindgren passed away peacefully at home on January 6th at the age of 83. Robert was born August 14, 1939, to Charles & Selma (Saari) Lindgren in Virginia. He attended school in Embarrass living most of his life in Sandy Township. In 1958 Robert enlisted in the 7th Army where he was stationed in Germany attached to the 46th artillery group providing security over mobile missile launchers. He earned Marksmanship Badge (Carbine), Expert Badge (Rifle) and Good Conduct Medal. […]

Kenneth (Ken) Harold Kube

Ken Kube, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN, at the age of 83. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Gosen Church, 23482 390th St. SE, McIntosh, MN, with Pastor Gary Johnson officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the memorial service. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. […]

Steven Jay Klingsporn

Steven Jay Klingsporn, 71 of Golden, Colorado passed away in his home on Friday morning, November 17, 2023. Steve was born on August 30, 1952 in Rochester, MN to Robert & Helen Klingsporn. In 1956 the family moved to Hoyt Lakes and then on to Lake Vermilion, Tower in the fall of 1962. Steve loved the lake life on Birch Point. He spent hours enjoying the water sports and fishing in the summer months and in the winter, snowmobiling, and […]

William (Bill) Ketola

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 Catholic Church in Gilbert, MN.  Bill then served 2 years in the Army and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, […]

Catherine A. ‘Kay’ Keane (née Johnson)

Keane, Catherine A. (“Kay”) (née Johnson), 100, of Minneapolis, died peacefully at home on February 13, 2021, surrounded by her four children, her books and a century of memories. She prevailed against time and age, but suddenly declined in the hours before her death. Kay celebrated her 100th birthday last October, shared distantly and remotely from her back yard, by friends, family across the country, neighbors, parishioners, and former students. Born in Stillwater, MN, on October 5, 1920, to Mabel […]

Kathryn A. Fuson

Kathryn A. Fuson, 73, of Soudan, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. She was born on August 26, 1947 in Moose Lake, the daughter of Clarence and Helen (Wills) Folstad. When she was young, her family moved to Tower, where she attended the Tower-Soudan schools until the 11thgrade.  The family moved to Aurora, where Kathy graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1965. In 1966, Kathy enlisted in the United […]

Mary L. Juhl

Mary L. Juhl, 76, of Tower passed away Saturday, February 13, 2021. She was born on August 8, 1944 in Buffalo Center, Iowa to Ervin and Elizabeth (Stowe) Halvorson and grew up in Rake, Iowa.  Mary received her Bachelor’s Degree from Luther College and her Master’s Degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s College.   On July 8, 1967 she married John Juhl in Rake, Iowa and helped found the family business, Jaytech, where she worked as an advisor in the […]

James Albert ‘Jim’ Frazee

James Albert “Jim” Frazee, age 83 a lifelong resident of Tower died Monday, January 18, 2021. He was born January 27, 1937 in Tower the son of William and Ann (Stepan) Frazee. Jim married Jean Laugen on July 9, 1955 in Tower and was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church. He was a proud member of the United States Navy Seabees, discharged in 1960. Jim was employed by Reserve Mining Co. as a production truck driver. He was an […]

Marjorie (Mardy) Jean Reinertsen Jackson

Marjorie (Mardy) Jean Reinertsen Jackson 1/26/28-10/2/22, “The Loon Lady” left us quietly at home listening to sounds of the Loon & the Northwoods. WHO WAS SHE? A MOM. A Beauty, A Traveler, A Reader, An Adventurer, A Listener, A Humorist, A Cook, A Perfectionist, A Writer, A Nature-Lover. Filled with Loyalty, Integrity, Class, and above all, LOVE. Your Favorite Daughters, Leah, Kim, & Deb. (Preceded in death by her parents, Byrd Belle and Edgar William Reinertsen, brother Robert Reinertsen, sister Dorothy […]

Raymond ‘Buck’ Holter

Raymond Walter “Buck” Holter, age 83 of Tower died Wednesday, November 3, 2021 in the Boundary Waters Care Center. He was born June 20, 1938 in Virginia, the son of Walter Leo and Anna (Johnson) Holter; and was married to Lois “Ginger” Peterson. Buck lived on the Iron Range, Colorado, Farmington, enjoyed winters in California, and returned to Tower in the early 2000’s. He was a longtime Truck driver for Linde-Union Carbide. Buck enjoyed fishing, collector cars, and his collector […]

LeRoy Cecil Holmes

LeRoy Cecil Holmes, 88, of Soudan, Minnesota died Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Cardigan Ridge Senior Living in Little Canada, Minnesota. LeRoy was born June 18, 1934 in Embarrass, Minnesota, son of Oscar and Ida Sundeen. He grew up and attended school in Tower-Soudan, graduating from high school in 1952. He then worked as an apprentice electrician with Oliver Mining company for a year, and proceeded into the Air Force in May 1953, and was honorably discharged as a […]

John Michael Hobyan, Jr.

John M. Hobyan, age 60 of Minneapolis died on February 9th, 2021. John was born on November 28th, 1960 in Eveleth, MN to John and Anne (Krantz) Hobyan. John attended and graduated from Eveleth school system. Approximately 30 years ago he moved to Minneapolis where he lived until his death. Starting with adolescence, John lived with mental illness. The most recent diagnosis of his condition was Autism Spectrum Disorder. Because of this illness, John was unable to attend college and, until […]