Obituaries

Dec 29, 2015

Jeff Brett, 61, of Lutsen, died Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester with his wife, Gayle, at his side.

He was born on September 24,1954 to Edward and Marcella (Sagehorn) Brett in Minneapolis. Jeff graduated from Columbia Heights High School and Dunwoody College of Technology.

Dec 26, 2015

John Nelson, 74, Tofte, died Saturday, December 26, 2015 at Essentia St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

John was born on April 24, 1941 to Emil and Rae (Kakko) Nelson in St. Paul, Minnesota.  As a child, John moved to Tofte where he attended elementary school and later graduated from high school in Grand Marais. In 1962,...

Dec 24, 2015

Colleen Larsen, 44 of Two Harbors, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 24, 2015 at home.

She was born July 17, 1971 to Gerald and DayAnn (Tryggeseth) Sandvig in Robbinsdale, MN.  Colleen grew up in Monticello before the family moved to Grand Marais where she graduated from high school.  She met Curt Larsen in 1991...

Dec 20, 2015

Karl Jevning, 85, of Silver Bay, died Sunday, December 20, 2015 at Lake View Memorial Hospital in Two Harbors.

He was born December 28, 1929 to Ingeman and Inga (Braaten) Jevning in Nielsville, Minnesota, where he grew up on the family farm.

During a New Year’s Eve Party in 1955 at Lind’s Twin Ports Resort...

Dec 20, 2015

Darrel Coleman Sr., 86, formerly of Two Harbors died Sunday, December 20, 2015 at his daughter’s home in Andover.

He was born on May 28, 1929 to Lewis and Edith (Nelson) Coleman in Dassel, MN.   He grew up and attended schools in the Dassel/Benson area, then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.  While in the military,...

Dec 19, 2015

John Griffin died Saturday, December 19, 2015 at his home in Silver Bay.

He was born October 16, 1940 to Joseph and Vera (Morgan) Griffin in Moline, Illinois.  John grew up in Mason City, Iowa.  He entered the Air Force and was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska.  John married Diana Borkenhagen in 1965 in Anchorage.  He finished college...

Dec 18, 2015

Arlene Loeffert, 86, passed away at Ecumen Scenic Shores Care Center in Two Harbors with her daughter at her side on Friday, December 18, 2015.

She was born December 3, 1929 to Edward and Thelma (Case) Hetland in Clarissa, MN.  She was the oldest of four children raised on a farm in Eagle Bend.  She married William...

Dec 17, 2015

Gordon “Buster” Ellestad, 88, of Two Harbors has been called to heaven to be reunited with his wife, Lila, the love of his life for 56 plus years, who he has missed deeply since her passing in 2004.  He is now at peace beside her and the Lord.

He was born March 1, 1927 to Fred and...

Dec 12, 2015

Paul Richard Johnson passed away peacefully in Hospice care at Barross Manor on December 12, 2015.

Paul was born on November 8, 1944, to Harry and Eva (Holmgren) Johnson of Two Harbors.  He graduated from Two Harbors High School in 1962 after which he completed studies at the Minnesota School of Business.  Following a few years in...

Dec 12, 2015

Florence Johnson, 96, of Burnsville, formerly of Two Harbors, Superior, and Eagan, died peacefully on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at her home with her family at her side.

She was born on March 2, 1919 to Gilbert and Emma (West) Peterson in Two Harbors where she grew up and attended schools, graduating in 1937.  On April 9,...

Dec 10, 2015

Marion Sellman, 87, of Two Harbors passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 10, 2015 with her daughters by her side.

She was born on June 21, 1928 to John and Mary Wikholm, and grew up on a farm in Wales raising sheep. After attending a one room schoolhouse in Wales, MN she graduated from...

Dec 7, 2015

Clifford Bergman, 77, Two Harbors, died peacefully on Monday, December 7, 2015 at his home.

Cliff was born on December 2, 1938 to Edward and Esther (Midtlyng) Bergman in Two Harbors, where he was a life-long resident. He was employed at various jobs through the years including many years as a baker at Lex’s Bakery, and later...

Dec 6, 2015

Thomas E. Backman, 92, of Two Harbors, MN died on Dec. 5, 2015 at the Minnesota State Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN.

He was born on April 22, 1923 in Chisholm, MN, the 9th child of 12 children born to Axel and Elin Backman.  Tom graduated from Chisholm High School in 1941, and enlisted in the...

Dec 2, 2015

Alice Jane (Craig) Bursch passed away peacefully in Hospice Care at St. Luke’s Hospital on December 2, 2015.

Alice Jane Craig Bursch was born on May 16, 1937 to Hedin and Esther (Anderson) Kragh in Two Harbors, MN. She graduated from U.M.D. in 1959 with degrees in piano and vocal performance. She married James Bursch in 1959...

Nov 29, 2015

Annemarie Meissner, 89, of Grand Marais died peacefully on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at home with her eldest daughter.

She was born on June 1, 1926 to Hermann and Elsa (Hannemann) Lipek in Stettin, Germany.  Annemarie, along with 3 brothers and 2 sisters, lived on an island located in a branch of the Oder River close to...

Nov 26, 2015

Whitey Dockan, 93, of Grand Marais, passed away at the North ShoreCare Center at 6:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015.

He was born July 20, 1922 to Andrew and Annette (Anderson) Dockanin St. Paul.  In 1929 his family traded their home for a farm and relocated to Willow River, MN where he attended school.  After leaving...

Nov 26, 2015

Fred Hall, 100, of Brimson, died Thursday, November 26, 2015 in Two Harbors.

He was born April 6, 1915 to Arvid and Anna (Talvitie) in Brimson where he was a lifelong resident.  He attended Bassett School and Petrell School #55.  Fred was a self-employed logger and dirt contractor, and he worked on the construction of Reserve Mining...

Nov 22, 2015

Aidan Mueller, age 3 months, of Two Harbors, died unexpectedly on Sunday at Lake View Memorial Hospital in Two Harbors.

He was born in Duluth on August 13, 2015 to Amanda Mueller and Dustin Henschel.

He will also be lovingly remembered by his sister and brothers, Allison, Logan and Brandon Henschel; grandparents, Terry and Jan...

Nov 19, 2015

Hannah Marie Minson Irvin, 36, of Hovland, Minnesota, passed away at North Shore Hospital on November 19, 2015, surrounded by beloved family and friends.

Hannah was born in Independence, Missouri on July 12, 1979 to Gary and Joyce (Montgomery) Minson of Abilene, Kansas, their second child and first daughter.

Hannah was married to Charles Jason...

Nov 13, 2015

Phyllis Erholtz, 89, of Two Harbors, died Friday, November 13, 2015 at Ecumen Scenic Shores in Two Harbors.

She was born on August 14, 1926 to Samuel and Sophie (Swenson) Hastings in Two Harbors, where she grew up and attended schools.  After high school she was employed as telephone operator for the D M & I R...