All Obituaries

Michael D. Sunde, 49, Two Harbors, died Wednesday, 12, 2020 at his home. Mike was born March 3, 1970 to Donald and Linda (Nylen) Sunde in New London, Connecticut while his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. After growing up in Babbitt, Minnesota, he moved to the western United States where he worked as an electrician for many years. He moved to Two Harbors in 2014, where he enjoyed clearing his parents’ land for a home. He loved time with his children, hunting, fishing and his...

Norma Jean Brubakken, 85, of Two Harbors, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. She was born on October 4, 1934 to Fred and Mabel (Hardina) Ellestad in Havana, North Dakota, where she grew up and graduated from high school. She married Gardner Brubakken on November 29, 1952 and they made their home in Two Harbors since 1956. While raising her six children, Norma drove school bus and later worked at Superior Shores Resort as head of the laundry, until her...

Gaynelle M. Johnson, 72,  Duluth, formerly of Two Harbors, passed unexpectedly Sunday, February 9, 2020 in Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center from a medical condition.  She battled it courageously, it was her body that gave way, not her fighting spirit.  Gaynelle was born March 1, 1947 to Shirley “Tootsie”  (Kirkus) and Kenneth E. “Bogo” Johnson in Two Harbors where she grew up and and graduated from Two Harbors High School, Class of...

Mary L. Booth died Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at Duluth, Minnesota.  She was born in Hibbing to Stanley and Leona Saccoman on August 28, 1928.  She grew up in Nashwauk and married Norman Booth in 1950.  She attended St. Scholastica and graduated with a degree in Education in 1967.  She taught in the Lake Superior School District for 21 years, teaching at Mary MacDonald, Campton and North Shore Elementary schools, retiring in June of 1988.  Mary Louise lived in Silver...

Wendell R. “Skip” Bissell, 85, Knife River, died Sunday, January 26, 2020 peacefully at his home. Skip was born April 11, 1934 to Rawland and Wendella (Peterson) Bissell in Two Harbors, and was a life-long Knife River resident.      He married Mary Ann Falk on Aug 13, 1954 and they enjoyed over 60 years together. Skip worked in maintenance for the Lake Superior School District until retiring in1989, after over 35 years of servce. He also worked as a...

Everett Coolidge, 75, Two Harbors, died Saturday, January 25, 2020 at his home, surrounded by family after a long illness. Everett was born to Lloyd and Esther (Hagberg) Coolidge on September 19, 1944 in Duluth.  He grew up in Knife River and attended schools there and in Two Harbors.  As a young man, Everett was employed as a heavy equipment opreator with the 49-ers, then worked as a machinist and supervisor at Barko Hydraulics.  In the 1980’s he and a partner opened...

Andrew L Byholm, 78, of Grand Marais MN, died Friday, January 24, 2020 at the North Shore Hospital Grand Marais MN surrounded by family. He was born January 25, 1941to Roy and Florence (Galligan) Byholm in Deer Brook, Wi. In 1956 he moved to Cook County and later graduated from Cook County High School. Andrew married Carole Buckman April 12, 1969 in Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte. His career included truck driving, welding, and mechanics. Welding was his passion, which he shared by...

Evelyn “Ev” Hastings, 85, Two Harbors, died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Waterview Shores. Ev was born August 25, 1934 to Louis and Esther (Wiklund) Johnson in Two Harbors, where she was a life-long resident, and was employed as a hairdresser for many years. Ev was a long-time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Eugene “Bud” Hastings; and sisters, Marian Beatty and Lois Quigley. Ev is survived by a son, Gary...

Ruth Elaine Larson of Silver Bay, MN passed away on January 20, 2020.  In recent months she had been a resident in the memory care unit for dementia at Diamond Willow in Lester Park. Ruth was born on March 8, 1930 in Duluth, MN, the daughter of John and Selma (Strom) Bloomquist.  She was a 1948 graduate of Denfeld High School and a 1951 graduate of St Luke’s Nursing School. After earning her registered nursing degree, she was employed by St Luke’s Hospital in the...

William T. Arntsen, 80, Two Harbors, died Monday, January 20, 2020 in Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation. Bill was born January 26, 1939 to John and Lois (Peterson) Arntsen in Washburn, where he grew up and attended schools.  He graduated from Washburn High School in 1957 and continued his education at Northland College where he excelled on the basketball team.  Bill was later inducted into the Northland College Basketball Hall of Fame.  He was most proud of being 1 point...