Johanna Baltich passed away on May 24, 2017 in Edmonds, Washington.
Known as Joanne or Babe to her many friends, she was an Ely native born on January 24, 1932 to Helen and Frank Novosel. With her four older brothers and a sister, she grew up in Ely and graduated from Ely Memorial High School. In 1952 she married Frank Baltich, also of Ely. Frank’s job as a game warden moved the young couple to Forest Lake and Cloquet before they returned to Babbitt to raise their family in a home they built together on Birch Lake. Frank passed away in 1998 and eventually Joanne moved to California to be near her son, Frank, and later to Washington state where she was cared for by her daughter, Mary Ann, and son-in-law, Scott Donahue.
Johanna loved people and made friends everywhere she went. She enjoyed conversation, classic movies, crossword puzzles, playing Bingo, and cooking and baking for her friends and family. Despite leaving her beloved northern Minnesota, she remained a loyal Twins, Vikings and Timberwolves fan and rarely missed an opportunity to watch them play. She liked working jigsaw puzzles both for the puzzle making and the companionship. She always tried to look out for and support her friends and was generous with her time when someone was in need.
Johanna is survived by her children: Frank (Mary), John (Linda), Mary Ann (Scott), Michael (Karen) and her five beloved grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband, Frank. A memorial will be scheduled when arrangements have been completed.