Obituaries

Feb 12, 2020

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...

Feb 12, 2020

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...

Feb 9, 2020

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...

Jan 28, 2020

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...

Jan 26, 2020

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...

Jan 25, 2020

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...

Jan 24, 2020

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...

Jan 22, 2020

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

...

Jan 20, 2020

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...

Jan 20, 2020

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...

Jan 13, 2020

Mary E. (Reed) Fenstad, 80, Little Marais, died Monday, January 13, 2020 at Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation.

Mary was born February 27, 1939 to Guy and Lucille (Cox) Reed on the family farm in rural New Auburn, Wisconsin.  As a young girl, she attended a one room school before graduating from New Auburn High School in...

Jan 11, 2020

Rande (Svee) Neylon, 68, Two Harbors, died Saturday, January 11, 2020 in the Benedictine Health Center, following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Rande was born January 28, 1951 to George and Bernice “Bunnie” (Woollen) Svee and was a life-long resident of Two Harbors. After graduating from high school in 1969, she married Jack Neylon and together...

Jan 11, 2020

Kenneth Ohlund, 93, Two Harbors, died unexpectedly on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Lake View Memorial Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie; children, Cindy Robinson, Jeff (Sue) Ohlund, Terry (Carol) Ohlund, and Doug (Patti) Ohlund; daughter-in-law, Marianne Ohlund; step-daughters, Janice Collison and Alma Elizabeth Richards;  9 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a sister, Norma Beckman.

Jan 1, 2020

Russ Nelson, 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 at Waterview Shores. Russ was born on August 28, 1922 in Montevideo, Minnesota. During high school he was a star athlete in football (team captain), track, and basketball and was class president his senior year.

He served in the U.S Army during World War...

Jan 1, 2020

Lynn Mielke, 80, of Two Harbors, formerly of Maplewood died Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth.

He grew up and attended schools in Fox Lake, WI before attending Macalester College. After serving in the U. S. Army, Lynn was employed as a computer programmer at Unisys for over 30 years.  He lived in Maplewood...

Jan 1, 2020

Brad Anderson, 67, passed away in his home on January 1, 2020.

After graduating from Two Harbors High School in 1971 he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force and served as a mechanic from 1971 to 1975.

A “jack of all trades” he enjoyed golfing and bowling, woodworking and tinkering with anything, especially cars....

Jan 1, 2020

Dennis T. Lehtinen, 67, Finland, died Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at his home with his family at his side, after a short illness.

A life-long resident of Finland, he graduated from William Kelley High School in Silver Bay in 1971. After high school he worked for Reserve Mining Company until 1983, then drove logging truck for his...

Dec 18, 2019

Nicholas H.W. Ojard, 32, of Knife River died tragically on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 in a snowmobile accident in Colorado.

He was born on December 6, 1987 to Gary and Vicky (Bissell) Ojard in Duluth.  Nick lived in Aurora the first 4 years of his life, but since that time has made Knife River his home.  He...

Dec 15, 2019

Kevin Carl Bergman, 57, of Two Harbors died suddenly on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Lake View Memorial Hospital in Two Harbors.

He was born on August 11, 1962 to Carl and Lorraine (Hanson) Bergman in Two Harbors where was a lifelong resident.  After high school, Kevin was employed at Midwest Timber for a short time and...

Dec 14, 2019

Eugene “Sonny” Udenberg, 82, Two Harbors, died Saturday, December 14, 2019 in the Barross Manor.

Sonny was born July 22, 1937 to Clifford and Hazel (Thorson) Udenberg in Two Harbors, where he was a life-long resident. As a young man, he was employed by the DM&IR Railway as a section laborer. After the death of his father-in-law,...