Marlis Runnberg

Marlis Mae Runnberg, 65, of Finland, died August 12, 2010 in Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.

She was born May 31, 1945 in Duluth, MN to Edwin and Sophie (Kalander) Nikula. She married Donald Runnberg in 1964, built a house on Lax Lake and have lived there for the last 46 years. Marlis graduated from Wm Kelly High School in Silver Bay in 1963, worked as a secretary at Wm Kelly for one year after graduation and then at the Silver Bay Bank (now Wells Fargo) for the next 20 years. Along with being bookkeeper for the family business (for 29 years), she worked the next 10 years at Split Rock Lighthouse for the MN Historical Society as interpreter and site tech retiring in 1997 with medical disability. Though battling Multiple Sclerosis since 1984, she stayed active in the community. She served on boards and was a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Finland MN Historical Society. She also served on the board of Lake County Historical Society, Lake County Citizens Advisory Board, Silver Bay Community Ed, and was facilitator for the North Shore MS Support Group. Marlis had a passion for encouraging young people to continue their education. To further that cause she and her husband created an endowed scholarship at Lake Superior College for students with disabilities. Though paraplegic since 2000, quadriplegic since 2007, and without vision for the last few years, she always had a positive outlook and never complained.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and brother Richard.

Marlis is survived by her husband Don, daughters Randi (Alex) Bildeaux of Scandia, MN, Gina (Kenneth) Dufault of Kasson, MN, granddaughters Erikka Bildeaux and Marissa Dufault, grandsons Ryan Bildeaux and Tanner Dufault. Also brothers Dale (Joretta) and Dean Nikula of Finland, sisters Delma (Don) Nyblom of Cottonwood, AZ, Ginger (Paul Tolzman) of Brooklyn Park, MN, sister-in-law Judy Nikula of Finland, sister and brother-in-law Dale and Mary Runnberg, of Lander, WY, 8 nephews and 5 nieces and their families.

A special thanks to Dr. Mollen and his nurse Darlene of SMDC Hermantown for their 20 plus years of great care, and to the staff at Saint Mary's Hospital and Solvay Hospice House.

Visitation will be at Cavallin Funeral Home, Mon, Aug. 16th 5-8pm with service at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland, 1pm, Tues., Aug. 17th. Memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Finland Historical Society, or her scholarship at Lake Superior College.