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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries: May 7, 2021

Posted

Lynell R. Yancey
Lynell R. Yancey, 66, of Tower, passed away on Monday, April 26, 2021, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A Tribute to a Life Well-Lived will be held for Lynell at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 7 at the Sand Lake Chapel in Britt with Pastor Dick Lohry officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
 Lynell was born on March 27, 1955, in Moose Lake, the daughter of Clarence and Helen (Wills) Folstad. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Tower, where she grew up and graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in 1973. She was united in marriage to John Zaitz on June 6, 1973. They lived in Chicago for a year before moving to Tower, where her two children were born. On Oct. 26, 1994, she married Michael Yancey in Lowville, N.Y. They lived in Tower for a time and then in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania before returning to Tower.
Lynell had been an assistant supervisor for the Tower Ambulance and a volunteer for the Breitung Fire Department. She was employed by Allegheny Particle Board in Pennsylvania, Flambeau River Papers in Wisconsin, Disability Specialists and Potlatch, both of Cook, and for the past five years, at Fortune Bay Resort Casino in Tower, retiring in March of 2020. Lynell enjoyed doing diamond painting, golfing, fishing and was an avid reader. She loved her puppies. She followed all of her children’s sports and was their biggest fan. She especially loved her grandkids. They were her world.
Lynell is survived by her husband, Michael Yancey of Tower; children, Joseph Zaitz of Tower and Melissa (Alan) Schroeter of Ely; grandchildren, Alexis Kudis, Ethan Zaitz, Jonathan Zaitz, Trevor Zaitz, Jordan Haburn and Lily Schroeter; her first great-grandchild expected in September; brothers, Kenneth Folstad Sr. of Soudan and Peanuts (Linda) Folstad of Soudan; the father of her children, John Zaitz of Tower; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; and her fur babies, Hadassah and Havalah.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Helen Folstad; sister, Kathy Fuson; and grand-niece, Kendra Folstad.

Marlene Akkanen
A graveside service for Marlene Akkanen of Babbitt will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 8 at Argo Cemetery in Babbitt with Pastor Brian Birk officiating. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. A luncheon and celebration of life will follow the service at the Junction Inn in Babbitt. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Alice R. Niemi
Alice Ruth Lamppa Niemi, 92, was born on June 22, 1928, in Embarrass, and died 92 years, and 23 miles farther, on Dec. 19, 2020, in Virginia. A celebration of life service will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 10 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia with Pastor Amy Janssen officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Current COVID mandates will be followed. Inurnment will be in the Embarrass Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Virgie Hegg Hospice Partners.
Funeral arangements are by Ziemer-Moeglein -Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert.

Dennis Erchul
Dennis “Denny” Erchul, 83, of Duluth, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower with Father Nick Nelson as celebrant. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Masks and social distancing will be required.


Duane V. Johnson
Duane Victor Johnson, 95, of Bear River, passed away with his loving family by his side on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Mt. Iron. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A reception will be held at the VFW following the service and burial. Military Honors will be accorded by the Cook VFW Post 1757 Honor Guard and the Orr American Legion Post 480 Honor Guard. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen “Joy” Johnson of Virginia; children, Kevin (Theresa) Johnson of Dothan, Ala., and Tammy (Farley) Fox of Britt; grandchildren, Richard Johnson, Renee Pemberton and Heather Johnson; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; numerous step-children and step-grandchildren.

Caroline Boshey
Caroline Boshey, 83, of Lake Vermilion, died on Friday, April 30, 2021, in the Cook Care Center. A wake was held on Monday, May 3 at the Vermilion Wellness Center on Lake Vermilion. Tribal Rites were held on Tuesday, May 4 at the Wellness Center. Burial was next to Baby Caroline in the Vermilion Cemetery. Family services were provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.
She is survived by her children, Bessie Medicine, Roberta Moyer, Brian (Raini) Moyer and Robert (Sarah) Moyer Jr., all of Lake Vermilion; grandchildren, Angela, Ryan, Travis, Jerrod, David, Kashina, Jennifer, Cheyenna, Kerie, Monica, Bryant, Michelle, Brian Jr., Nai’lee, Kai’lee, Cameron, Trevor, Sheldon and Hayden; 35 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, including special nieces, Barb, Roxanne and Kristal; and extended family and friends.