Michael Berglund, 56 passed away at his home in Gheen, MN, on Friday, December 2, 2016.
Michael was born December 10, 1959 in Ely, MN, to the late Bert Berglund and Joan (Zupec) Berglund Leustek.
Mike attended Ely Memorial until completion of high school, and joined the Army in August of 1978. He earned the rank of SP4, received an Expert Badge M-16, worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, and completed a Materials Quality Specialist Course. He was honorably discharged in 1981. He then worked in South Dakota for Braun Engineering for a few years, before moving back to Ely and working for his step-father Al Leustek in road construction.
Mike united in marriage to Dolores (Tomczak) Berglund on November 27, 1987 at his parents’ residence.
In December of 1991, Mike and his family moved to Little Falls, MN, where he continued to work road construction, often the job superintendent. Mike coached for Little Falls Youth Hockey from the Squirt level to Peewee. He loved teaching young players the game. He spent countless hours with his kids on the outdoor skating rink he made for them. He loved to play any kind of game with his kids, whether it was board games or playing a sport outside.
In 2012, after his divorce he moved to Gheen, MN. He resided in a home he always wanted, with lots of woods and land. Mike was an avid reader, and loved to garden, listen to music, watch birds and wildlife, and be out in nature.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Izaak Berglund of Minneapolis, daughter Abigail Berglund of Sartell, mother of his children, Dolores Berglund of Little Falls, sister Barbara Berglund (Emily Wahlberg) of Ely, and many nieces and nephews, and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Joan and Albert Leustek, and his sister Patti Sue Berglund.
Interment for Mike will be on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ely Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome to attend and following the service there will be a luncheon and Celebration of Life at his sister Barb’s home.

Ronald A. Omerza, 76, of Ely, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Ronald Anthony Omerza was born to Mary (Deyak) and Tony Omerza on August 13, 1940, in Ely, MN. He attended Ely Public Schools where he excelled at baseball and basketball. He graduated from Ely High School in 1959. He attended Ely Junior College and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. A knee injury during tryouts with the Pirates ended his chance for the big leagues.
On August 26, 1961, he and Barbara Shepel were united in marriage at St. Anthony’s Church in Ely. He graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Social Studies.
In 1964 they moved to Baudette, MN, where he accepted a teaching position at Baudette High School, which eventually became Lake of the Woods High School. His love for sports continued as he coached football, baseball, basketball and softball. He fulfilled his dream by taking a baseball and basketball team to the state tournaments.
Early on in his teaching career, he was given the nickname ‘Omer’ by his students, which stayed with him through retirement.
Ronald was active in the Moose Lodge, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, the Junior Class play, and coordinating many proms. He volunteered for many years annually cooking 40+ turkeys for the annual fall supper in Baudette. He was famous for his dressing, a secret family recipe.
Ronald was a beloved teacher and mentor to thousands of students over his 38 years at the school. Ronald passed away peacefully on July 19, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ronald A. Omerza, 76, of Ely, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Ronald Anthony Omerza was born to Mary (Deyak) and Tony Omerza on August 13, 1940, in Ely, MN. He attended Ely Public Schools where he excelled at baseball and basketball. He graduated from Ely High School in 1959. He attended Ely Junior College and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. A knee injury during tryouts with the Pirates ended his chance for the big leagues.
On August 26, 1961, he and Barbara Shepel were united in marriage at St. Anthony’s Church in Ely. He graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Social Studies.
In 1964 they moved to Baudette, MN, where he accepted a teaching position at Baudette High School, which eventually became Lake of the Woods High School. His love for sports continued as he coached football, baseball, basketball and softball. He fulfilled his dream by taking a baseball and basketball team to the state tournaments.
Early on in his teaching career, he was given the nickname ‘Omer’ by his students, which stayed with him through retirement.
Ronald was active in the Moose Lodge, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, the Junior Class play, and coordinating many proms. He volunteered for many years annually cooking 40+ turkeys for the annual fall supper in Baudette. He was famous for his dressing, a secret family recipe.
Ronald was a beloved teacher and mentor to thousands of students over his 38 years at the school. Ronald passed away peacefully on July 19, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, sons Tom (Heidi) Omerza, Tim (Patty) Omerza, and a daughter Jane (Greg) Mosher. Grandchildren: Kathleen (Anthony) Recht, Alexandra (Thomas) Graves, Samantha, Elliot, Evan, Gabriella, Eric and Elizabeth. Mother Mary Omerza. Sister Cindy (John) Stene, in-laws: Janice and Jerry Skala, Frank and Joan Shepel and Lawrence and MaryAnn Shepel. Nieces and nephews: Daniel, Alexandra, Francesca, Roxanna, Mathew, Michael, Suzanne, Rachael and Sherri.
Ron was preceded in death by his father, Tony Omerza, grandparents Matt and Mary (Carr) Deyak, Mary (Poderzay) Omerza, brothers Gary and Danny, and sister Jean; in-laws Frank and Frances Shepel.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 24, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be one hour before Mass.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Tony Omerza, grandparents Matt and Mary (Carr) Deyak, Mary (Poderzay) Omerza, brothers Gary and Danny, and sister Jean; in-laws Frank and Frances Shepel.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 24, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be one hour before Mass.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Alice Ann Kovall passed away peacefully at Brownswick Village Assisted Living Facility in Grass Valley, California on Nov. 7, 2016. She was 99 years old.
Alice was born in Ely, Minnesota on June 4, 1917, one of seven children born to immigrant parents Steven Kovall (Austria/Hungary) and Margaret Staresinich Kovall (Slovenia). Her father Steven was in the dry goods business in Ely until his untimely death at age 42. At that time the family was dispersed to friends and relatives until her mother married John Chelesnik and the family was reunited and relocated to a farm outside of Ely. Alice attended public schools in Ely through the ninth grade until the hardship of winter travel ended her formal education.
In 1936, married and with son Tom on the way, Sue joined her husband in California where he found work in the restaurant business. During the war years Alice and her family lived in Illinois, Utah and Texas where her husband worked on military construction projects. At war’s end they resumed their life in California where daughter Bobette was born in 1945 and son Ken in 1950.
Divorced in 1960 and with two children left to raise, Alice found employment at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, where she rose to the position of Clinic Coordinator. Alice retired at age 67 after 25 years of service.
In addition to regular visits to Ely to visit family. Alice enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, China and many sites of Western Europe. For more than forty years she was an active member of St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Mountain View, California where she attended daily mass and enjoyed bingo and senior luncheons. With the support of family, Alice enjoyed a comfortable retirement, living independently in the same apartment amidst familiar surroundings for 30 years.
At age 96 and in need of more extensive care, Alice moved to Grass Valley to be closer to family. The family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care she received from the staff at Brunswick Village Assisted Living Facility and Hospice of the Foothills.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Angela Skala, Margaret Deyak, Agnes Jenko, Helen Strukel and Edward Kovall.
Alice is survived by three children: Tom Blackwood, Bobette Blackwood and Ken Kunkel; five grandchildren: Eric Shaffer, Julie Seldes, Justin Blackwood, Chris Blackwood and Melinda Kunkel; great grandchildren: Mason Seldes; Bennet, Henry and Dylan Blackwood, and Ethan Shaffer; brother Robert Kovall; nieces Virgie Ivancich, Marion Kangus, Darlene Brazee and Sandy Egge; nephews: Gary Kovall, Robert Kovall Jr. and Jerry Jenko; grand nephews Frank and Paul Ivancich.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on Friday August 4, 2017 11:00 a.m. followed by graveside services at the Ely Cemetery. Upon conclusion of services lunch will be served at the Grand Ely Lodge. Please join us.

Judy Mackie, 76, Ely, MN, passed away Feb. 9 at Babbitt Carefree Living.
There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Grace Lutheran Church in Ely from 2-3 p.m., followed by a memorial
service at 3 p.m., Saturday, July 29. In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation to Northwoods Partners. Arrangements by Kerntz Funeral Home.

Joye M. Soderberg, 88, of Ely, passed away at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Kennedi Swanson, passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Kennedi Swanson, passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Stanley Starkman, 87, of Ely, passed away on June 28, 2017. He was born on June 5, 1930 to Richard and Erma (Dyhr) in Ely. He was a 1948 graduate of Ely Memorial High School. Stan answered his country’s call and was sent to fight in the Korean War where he earned 3 Bronze Stars for Valor in combat. Stan married the love of his life, Marianne Olsson, in 1967 and had two children together. Stan spent most of his working career in the mining industry. He worked in the Zenith Mine in Ely and then at Reserve in Babbitt until 1983. Stan sold firewood for many years until his retirement. In his younger days he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a humble and soft spoken man with a great sense of humor.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Erma, his wife Marianne and brother Ronald Starkman. He is survived by his daughter Britt (Staffan) Axelsson of Round Lake, Ill and two sons Dennis (Christie) Kastama of North St. Paul, MN and Erik (Debora) Starkman of Farmington, MN; a brother Gary (Delores) Starkman of Ely, MN and sister Kathy Douglas of Portland, OR. His is also survived by grandchildren: Amanda (Tommy) McKnuckles, Megan (Josh) Loahr, Ben (Georgie) Kastama, Heidi Kastama, Nick Axelsson, Sam Axelsson, Noah Axelsson, Josh Patterson and Nathan Starkman; six great grandchildren; nephews Michael (Marla) Starkman, Dan Starkman, Kevin Starkman and niece Bridget Hazeyama; aunts BJ Dyhr and Elaine Briggs.
The Starkman family would like to extend a special thanks to the good folks of Essentia Hospice and Care Free Living. Their kindness and compassion was greatly appreciated. There will be no services per Stan’s request.

Angela Kay Stitt-Mackey, 44, of Las Vegas, NV, formerly of Grand Rapids, MN, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Spring Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, NV.
Angela was born in 1973 to Caroline and Ray Stitt in Grand Rapids, MN. She attended grade school in Warba, MN and then attended Grand Rapids Middle School and graduated from Grand Rapids High School. Angela attended Itasca Community College where she studied accounting and later studied massage therapy in Roseville, MN.
Angela was united in marriage to Christopher Mackey on October 6, 2014 in Las Vegas NV where they made their home.
Preceding her in death was her mother, Caroline Stitt in 1999.
Angela is survived by her husband, Christopher Mackey; her best friend and mother-in-law, Susan Mackey of Ely, MN; her father, Ray Stitt of Bovey, MN; brothers, Timothy Stitt of Almond, WI, Phillip (Devlin) Stitt of Blaine, MN; Michael (Rochelle) Stitt of Bovey, MN, and Gary (Anne) Stitt of Bruno, MN; her best friend, Gina King of Grand Rapids, MN; nieces; nephews; and many cousins and friends.
Visitation will be Monday, August 14th from 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MN. Fr. Jerry Weiss will officiate. Burial will be in Warba-Feeley Cemetery, Feeley Township, MN.
Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.

Amelia (Gorshe) Novak, 98, a lifelong resident of Ely, passed away on Thursday August 3, 2017 at Carefree Living in Ely. She was born on September 28, 1918 in Ely to Carl (Charles) Gorshe and Mary (Zabasnik) Gorshe. She graduated from Ely Memorial High School.
Amelia devoted her life to raising her family and making her delicious walnut and apple poticas. She loved making all the traditional Slovenian dishes which her family and friends enjoyed eating. She was a member of the Western Slavonic Association (WSA) and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. .
She was preceded in death by her parents, son James, sisters: Mary Deyak, Caroline Likar, Frances Urbas, Jenny Mehelich, Angela Lobe, Julia Fink, her brother, Charles Gorshe, and her husband of 72 years, Charles Novak.
She is survived by her son, Charles D. Novak of Ely, Carol (Novak) (David) Kochendofer of Coon Rapids, four grandchildren: Ben (Erin) Novak, Leah (Michael) Novak Baroun, Kim (Dave) Schulte, Michael Kochendofer and five great-grandchildren.
Mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely on Tuesday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m.,with visitation an hour prior. Internment will be in the Ely Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Gerald Smith, 91, of Winton, passed away on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Jack Willis, 69, of Ely, died Thursday, August 3, in Duluth.

Marcella Agnes (LaBelle) Archambault, 95, born Sept. 95, 1921, passed away on July 29, 2017. Anyone who knew her benefited from her kindness and generosity. She loved caring for her family and no one left her home empty handed. There are no words adequate enough to express the loss we all feel. She is preceded in death by her parents Wilfred and Teresa LaBelle (Murphy); husband Chuck; children, David, Dick, Jim and Steve; grandson Brian Lyke; granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Jessie. Her siblings James (congressional medal of honor recipient), Norman, Howard, Evelyn Roo and Virginia Carpentier.
She is survived by her children Barb Lyke and Charlie Archambault; Her sisters Mary Lou Steiner and Elaine Lauer. Along with many grand children, great grand children, daughters in law, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel on Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017 at 2 p.m. Visitation one hour prior. Interment at Hillside to follow.

Dian Whelan, 74, of Plymouth, MN and Ely summer resident, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 30, 2017.
Preceded in death by husband, James; son, Michael; parents, Kenneth and Ruby Hampton; brothers, Ken, Jr. “Speed” and John.
Survived by daughter, Carolyn (Joel) Klaers; grandsons: David, Daniel and Kevin. Special thank you to the North Memorial Hospice Team. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. on
Monday, August 14 at Word of Peace Lutheran Church, 21705 129th Ave S., Rogers. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials preferred to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Barbara (Skradski) Asbury, 96 of St. Paul died August 3, 2017 at St. Anthony Park Home. Born and raised in Ely, Minnesota. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Merrill Dean; many nieces and nephews. Retired employee of the City of St. Paul and longtime member of the Catholic Church of St. Cecilia. The family would like to acknowledge the support and friendship of JoAnn Mason and the care provided by the staff at St. Anthony Park Home. Funeral Service 2 p.m. (visitation 1:30 p.m) on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home, 536 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul. Private interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medical Center.

Tough Yet Gentle - Jack Willis, 69, of Ely, MN passed away on August 3, 2017. Beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, neighbor, co-worker and friend, Jack was born March 16, 1948 in East Orange, NJ to George and Bertine Willis. Serious and focused as a child, he developed a work ethic that never faltered.  He graduated from Rivers Country Day School (Massachusetts) in 1966 and attended both Paul Smith College (New York) and Prescott College (Arizona). He went on to become a jack of all trades in Ely for the past 50 years.
Admired by many as diligent and tenacious, Jack worked for the Northshore Mine, as a self-employed logger, and for Voyageur Outward Bound. He completed a course with Outward Bound in 1966 and went on to work for the Voyageur Outward Bound School in Ely, MN on and off over his lifetime; serving as an instructor, Course Director, Associate Program Director and Site Manager. Through his tenure, he became a legend and left a far reaching legacy of service and kindness with countless staff and students. His irrepressible spirit, big smile and wry humor will be sorely missed.
An exemplary community citizen, Jack took an active leadership role in various civic and school organizations; including coaching Little League, serving on the Little League board and helping with the grounds keeping at the Ely football and Little League fields for years. He served one term for the Town of Morse Board.  Balancing his hard work and pragmatism, he lived by his family motto “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
Jack was a lifelong learner, ever curious about the world around him. He possessed an indefatigable spirit that pulled him through any hurdle. We will always remember him as kind, smiling, generous and funny; he was a man who was content with himself, his life, and his family.
We are all feeling the tremendous loss of a tough yet gentle soul. He is survived by his wife Kathleen (Kate) Willis of Ely; three sons: Tyler Willis (and Melanie) of Island Pond, VT, Ryan Willis of Ely and Jeffrey Willis of Ely. He is also survived by two siblings; Tina Slosberg (Ken) of (Santa Cruz, CA); Tim Willis (Robin) of (Randolph, VA), sister in law, Nancy Willis of (Mt Vernon, OH); and three nephews and four nieces. Proceeded in death by twin brother; Jeff Willis and parents; George and Bertine Willis.
A memorial service will be held on September 23, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Voyageur Outward Bound School, 1007 Spruce Road, in Ely, MN, with reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, pay it forward through kindness and in deed. A scholarship will be established in his name at the Voyageur Outward Bound. Please send any money donations towards the scholarship (Voyageur Outward Bound School, 1007 Spruce Road Ely, MN 55731). passed away on August 3, 2017. Beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, neighbor, co-worker and friend, Jack was born March 16, 1948 in East Orange, NJ to George and Bertine Willis. Serious and focused as a child, he developed a work ethic that never faltered.  He graduated from Rivers Country Day School (Massachusetts) in 1966 and attended both Paul Smith College (New York) and Prescott College (Arizona). He went on to become a jack of all trades in Ely for the past 50 years.
Admired by many as diligent and tenacious, Jack worked for the Northshore Mine, as a self-employed logger, and for Voyageur Outward Bound. He completed a course with Outward Bound in 1966 and went on to work for the Voyageur Outward Bound School in Ely, MN on and off over his lifetime; serving as an instructor, Course Director, Associate Program Director and Site Manager. Through his tenure, he became a legend and left a far reaching legacy of service and kindness with countless staff and students. His irrepressible spirit, big smile and wry humor will be sorely missed.
An exemplary community citizen, Jack took an active leadership role in various civic and school organizations; including coaching Little League, serving on the Little League board and helping with the grounds keeping at the Ely football and Little League fields for years. He served one term for the Town of Morse Board.  Balancing his hard work and pragmatism, he lived by his family motto “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
Jack was a lifelong learner, ever curious about the world around him. He possessed an indefatigable spirit that pulled him through any hurdle. We will always remember him as kind, smiling, generous and funny; he was a man who was content with himself, his life, and his family.
We are all feeling the tremendous loss of a tough yet gentle soul. He is survived by his wife Kathleen (Kate) Willis of Ely; three sons: Tyler Willis (and Melanie) of Island Pond, VT, Ryan Willis of Ely and Jeffrey Willis of Ely. He is also survived by two siblings; Tina Slosberg (Ken) of (Santa Cruz, CA); Tim Willis (Robin) of (Randolph, VA), sister in law, Nancy Willis of (Mt Vernon, OH); and three nephews and four nieces. Proceeded in death by twin brother; Jeff Willis and parents; George and Bertine Willis.
A memorial service will be held on September 23, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Voyageur Outward Bound School, 1007 Spruce Road, in Ely, MN, with reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, pay it forward through kindness and in deed. A scholarship will be established in his name at the Voyageur Outward Bound. Please send any money donations towards the scholarship (Voyageur Outward Bound School, 1007 Spruce Road Ely, MN 55731).

Judy Mackie, 76, Ely, MN, passed away Feb. 9 at Babbitt Carefree Living.
There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Grace Lutheran Church in Ely from 2-3 p.m., followed by a memorial
service at 3 p.m., Saturday, July 29. In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation to Northwoods Partners. Arrangements by Kerntz Funeral Home.

Jill McElmurry, illustrator of the best-selling “The Little Blue Truck” series of children’s books, died Aug. 3 at her home in Taos, New Mexico, of breast cancer. She spent portions of each summer at her cabin on Burntside Lake from 2011-2017. She was 62.
“The Little Blue Truck” has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. A Chinese edition was published in 2017. “Little Blue Truck’s Springtime” will be released in January, 2018. Working primarily in gouache for her children’s books, Ms. McElmurry had a playful, animated style. “McElmurry’s highly energetic illustrations have an accomplished retro feel, yet they explode with her own brand of zany details,” said Publisher’s Weekly in a review of “Mad About Plaid” (HarperCollins; 2000), her first children’s book, which she also wrote. Among Ms. McElmurry’s other successful books were “The Tree Lady” (author Joseph Hopkins, 2013, Beach Lane Books), whose many awards included the California Library Association’s Beatty Award. “The Tree Lady” has been translated into several languages.
Examples of McElmurry’s illustrations were shown at group exhibitions at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. Later in life, Ms. McElmurry established a second career as a painter. At a friend’s suggestion, McElmurry began painting the New Mexico landscape in 2009. Represented by the Mission Gallery in Taos, her paintings sold briskly: One landscape, “Rio Grande No.2,” became part of the Gus Foster Collection at the Harwood Museum in Taos, and was displayed in the “Continuum” from October 2016 until May 2017. In recent years, she expanded her subject matter to include the Northern Minnesota landscape.
Jill McElmurry was born November 3, 1954, in Los Angeles to Charles McElmurry and Norma Larrinaga, both commercial illustrators. The family moved to Taos in 1962, where she lived until 1968. McElmurry moved to Santa Barbara, California with her mother in 1968; she graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1971.
McElmurry attended the State University of New York at Purchase and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She lived in Manhattan and in Hamburg, Germany, for a few years, illustrating magazines, book covers, posters and design projects for clients in the United States and Germany. Returning to the States from Germany in 1989, she lived briefly in San Francisco, before moving to Healdsburg, California, in 1991, where she met her husband, Eric. They were married in 1993 in Dunsmuir, California, where they had moved in 1992. From 1992 to 1998, she and her husband owned and operated Nutglade Station, a hotel, cafe and bar; while there, she began writing and illustrating children’s books, a lifelong dream. Between 1998 and 2005 she lived in Takoma Park, Md., and Saint Paul, Minn. In 2005, she moved to Albuquerque, and, in 2015, to Taos.
She is survived by her husband Eric Webster and dog Harry.

Lloyd G. Gustafson, 78, of Cook, died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, at the Cook Community Hospital.

He was born on Sept. 12, 1938, in Cook, the son of Gust and Elfva (Persson) Gustafson. He was a lifelong resident of Cook and Lake Vermilion area.

Lloyd graduated from Cook High School in 1956 and then completed two years at Virginia Junior College. He married Mary E. Ludlow on June 10, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook, where he was a longtime member.

Lloyd worked at the family owned Standard Oil gas station in his earlier years, learning the rewards of a strong work ethic. The Gustafson family farm was special to Lloyd as were several businesses his grandfather pioneered at Cook.

Lloyd is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; son, Michael and his wife Susan of Orono, Minn., and their children, Kevin and Sarah; daughter, Lynn Schwob and her husband Dave of Waconia, Minn., and their children, Abbey, Connor and Andrew; his brother, Lee of Lake Vermilion-Cook; sister, Linda Poshak of Garden Lake-Ely and her children, Jay (Jacki Brieger), and Marc; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mark Ludlow and his wife Sally of Lake Vermilion-Cook and Martha Baker (and late husband Bill) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; along with other extended family and friends.

Paulette Krueger, 78, of Babbitt, passed on Monday, August 14, 2017 at her home. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.