All Obituaries

Philip K. DuFresne, 104, Two Harbors, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2018 at Ecumen Scenic Shores in Two Harbors. He was born June 20, 1914 to Henry and Hulda (Johnson) DuFresne in North Dakota.  When he was a child, his mother remarried and they moved to Two Harbors, where Phil remained the rest of his life.  He was the 2nd oldest of the four boys and one sister.    In 1935 he married Delores (Pat) O’Brian and had 2 sons, David and Fred.  In...

Toni Almstedt, 71, of Two Harbors, died at home on Friday, November 9, 2018 after a lengthy illness. She was born on December 13, 1946 to Vincent and Ruth (Griffith) Barto in Harvard, IL where she grew up and attended school.  Toni graduated from UWS with a Bachelor’s Degree in January of 1970 and married Peter Almstedt on June 26, 1971.  While living in Milwaukee she was employed by RW Baird & Company, a financial services firm.  Toni and Pete moved to Superior in...

Claire Johnson, 68, of Two Harbors died suddenly on Monday, November 5, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. She was born on June 30, 1950 to Edgar O. and Lucille (Anderson) Johnson in Two Harbors where she grew up and attended schools.  Claire attended UMD before becoming employed as a medical lab tech in Aitkin and Duluth.  Later, she returned to Two Harbors to care for her aging parents. Claire enjoyed reading, beadwork, crafting, painting, and time with her nieces and...

Darrellyn Barrett, 65, of Grand Marais, died suddenly on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. She was born January 1, 1953 in Duluth to Betty (Manning) and Douglas Dissell. After growing up in Burbank, California she lived in Minnesota for several years and was employed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. She returned to California for a time, married Jerry Barrett, and later moved to Minnesota, a land she loved so much. She enjoyed canoeing the...

Gary Ralph Lowell Nelson passed away at his home on October 8, 2018 with his daughters holding him in their arms, fulfilling his wishes on how he wanted his final days to be spent.  He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in 2015, and his family is ever- grateful for the extra time they had with him beyond what was originally expected.  He was born on December 14, 1936 to Ralph Hjalmer Nelson and Ruby Lenore (Helmerson) Nelson.  He was a 3rd generation...

Leah C. Williamson, 84, of Silver Bay died on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. She was born November 7, 1933 to Archie and Josephine (Sha) Loomer in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where she grew up, graduated from high school, and Fergus Falls Teacher’s Training.  After teaching for two years in Ottertail County, she married William Williamson on December 19, 1953. They moved to Silver Bay in 1956 and Leah was a homemaker through...

Ronald Clement Sr., age 84, of Silver Bay passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 21, 2018 at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Silver Bay. Ron was born on July 31, 1934 to Louis and Lillian (Page) Clement in Ashland, WI.  Ron grew up in Saxon, WI and graduated from Saxon High School in 1953. He married Geraldine Bott, his high school sweetheart, on May 21, 1955. In 1955 he enlisted in the US Army and served in Germany from 1955-57.  Ron was employed as a...

Donald Wick, 90, of Castle Danger (Two Harbors) died Wednesday, September 19, 2018 in St. Luke’s Hospital. He was born on May 8, 1928 to Albin and Clara (Jacobson) Wick in Two Harbors and was a life-long resident of Castle Danger. After graduating from Two Harbors High School in 1946, he served in the U. S. Army, then attended Milwaukee School of Engineering.  He returned to the North Shore and was employed in the construction of Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay, and later...

Aileen Marie (Olson) Johnson died Friday September 14, 2018.  She was born on November 22, 1928 to Harold and Edna (Hangartner) Olson, and was the eldest of five children, including Christine Hebert, Linda Albert, and two siblings who preceded her in death, Don Olson and Mary Gray.  Aileen was a lifelong Two Harborite. In high school, she played the string bass for basketball games, and watched her sweetheart and future husband Warren Wesley Johnson play ball. She was an x-ray...

Dick Olson, 74, Two Harbors, died Wednesday September 12, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was born December 14, 1943 to Galen and Tillie (Brattlie) Olson in Crookston, Minnesota, and grew up in Two Harbors. After serving in the US Army, he was employed as a printer at the Duluth News Tribune. Dick enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the American Legion. He is survived by siblings Gayle (David) Fleck, Larry Olson, Roger Olson, and Debra...