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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries: September 25, 2020

Posted

Raymond A. Stefanich
Raymond Anthony Stefanich, 79, of Soudan, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.
Ray was born in Tower and graduated from Tower High School. He married Rosemary Zavodnick in 1961 and they began their lives together in Soudan, where they raised their two sons. Ray had a long career in mining, working at Reserve Mining as a certified fabricator and later as a warehouse manager at LTV. Some of his favorite pastimes were hunting, fishing, spending time with family at the cabin at Wolf Lake, and playing pinochle with his brothers.
He was most happy traveling with Rosemary locally and nationally, listening and dancing to polka music. They especially enjoyed visiting with friends at Nick’s in Gilbert and the annual polka conventions in Cleveland and Chicago.
Ray is survived by his sons, Raymond John (Angela) of Burnsville and Mark of Soudan; grandchildren, Andrew of Burnsville and Jillian (Stephen) Bova of Tewksbury, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Joey and Sofia Rose of Tewksbury, Mass.; brothers, Greg (Gerry) and Ted; sisters, Carol Dyhr (Tim), Dorothy Vesel (Vince) and Mary Jo Wiermaa (Jay); sister-in-law, Jo Ann; special friends, Pam and Ron Jr. Abrahamson; and many other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Ann (Inky); his wife of 56 years, Rosemary Zavodnick Stefanich; and brothers, Joseph and Nicholas.

Penny L. Hiltunen
Penny Lynn Hiltunen, 73, of Tower, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, at her residence. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Soudan with Pastor Greg Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Due to COVID-19, attendance will be restricted to family members only, with face masks required. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.
Penny was born on Feb. 25, 1947, in Milwaukee, Wis., the daughter of Clifford and Muriel (Korpi) Thierer. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Soudan where she grew up and attended the Tower-Soudan schools. Penny was united in marriage to William Hiltunen on April 24, 1965, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Soudan. They made their home in Tower, where they had since resided.
She worked as a cook at Parkside Homes in Soudan for 21 years and later in the laundry at Fortune Bay Resort for nine years. Penny enjoyed reading, gardening and baking. In her earlier years, she and Bill enjoyed snowmobiling and spending time on the lake. Penny was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Soudan, where she was an active and dedicated worker with the women of the church.
Penny is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Bill Hiltunen of Tower; son, Patrick Hiltunen of Hibbing; daughter, Heidi (Bruce Rossi) Hiltunen of Lake Vermilion-Tower; granddaughter, Tiana Ruszak; brothers, John (Rhonda) Thierer of Duluth and James (Teri) Thierer of Pike-Sandy; brother-in-law, Don Crayne of Vermilion Lake Township; brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Sue Hiltunen of Virginia; sister-in-law, Connie Hiltunen of Virginia; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; special cat, Samantha; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Muriel Thierer; brother, “Duff” Thierer; sister, MaryAnn Crayne; and nephew, Zach Thierer.

Shirley M. Riemer
Shirley Marie Klun Riemer, 79, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, at Carefree Living in Ely. She died of complications attributed to COVID-19. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
As these are extraordinary times, there will not be a funeral or memorial at this time. The family will look to next summer to hold a celebration of life when things are deemed safe and proper to do so. They would like to recognize the amazing women and men at Carefree Living. They are all heroes. In lieu of cards or flowers, they would ask for a few simple things. Wear a mask. This disease is real. Be kind to one another and keep each other safe. And lastly, vote.
She is survived by her sons, Mark (Ramon) and James (Natalie); grandson, Cole; Laura Achurch; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Edith R. Tedrick
Edith “Edie” Renee Richards Tedrick, 75, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. A private family burial has been planned at this time. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She is survived by her sons, Gary (Sue) Tedrick and Pete (Kayla) Tedrick; grandchildren, Tyler, Ashley, Lillian and Wyatt; and great-granddaughter, Arabella.

Lois Struna
Lois Struna, 92, of Ely, passed away at Carefree Living in Ely on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, after a stroke and a recent positive test for COVID-19. The family wishes to thank all the staff at Carefree Living for being such an important and loving part of their mom’s life for the past several years. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Elizabeth K. MacMillan
Elizabeth “Liz” Kay Starkman MacMillan, 76, of Ely, died on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Douglas MacMillan, 78, of Ely, on July 11, 2015. A celebration of life for Ron and Liz will be held at a later date.
They are survived by their sons, Patrick (Louise) MacMillan and Michael (Stacey) MacMillan; brother, Carl (Paulette) Pietila; grandchildren, Blake (Breanne), Brooke, Brittany, Alexis and Isabel; and great-grandchildren, Anna, Sophie and Blake.

Mary Ann Trancheff
Mary Ann Markovich Trancheff, 90, a lifelong resident of both Ely and Lake Vermilion, passed away peacefully at Carefree Living in Ely on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, a victim of COVID-19. The family wishes to thank the staff at Carefree Living for their excellent and compassionate care of Mary Ann over the past five years. You are all truly heroes. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no funeral services. Private family internment will be arranged by Kerntz Funeral Home in the Ely Cemetery.
She is survived by her sons, Michael (Rebecca) Trancheff of Blaine and Patrick (Ellen) Trancheff of Tower, grandchildren, Megan (Dan) Sailsbury of Lino Lakes, Kirsten Trancheff of Blaine, Brian (Elina) of Tower and Laura Trancheff of Minneapolis; great-grandchildren, Calvin, Max, Jonah, Ella and Mille; brother, Matthew Markovich of Ely; and brother-in-law, Matthew (Jean) Trancheff of Long Island.

Raymond A. Nickolson
Raymond Alexander Nickolson, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at Carefree Living in Ely. He died among caretakers who put their lives at risk every day to make dying during this horrendous time a little less painful. COVID-19 took his life a little sooner than his body wanted but his mind was ready to let go. The family is comforted in knowing his struggle with dementia is finally over and he can now be at peace. They are postponing a memorial for Ray until next summer or until there is a COVID-19 vaccine and it is safe to gather. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Please direct any memorial contributions to Ely Carefree Living to provide Personal Protective Equipment during this pandemic. When making the donation please specify that it is in memory of Ray Nickolson and direct to Ely Carefree Living, 140 S 2nd Ave. W, Ely, MN 55731.

Gloria Smuk
Gloria Bianchi Smuk, 81, lifelong resident of Ely, passed away at Carefree Living on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. Sadly, she was a victim of COVID-19. Interment was on Saturday, Sept. 19 in the Ely Cemetery, with a procession from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Family arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She is survived by two daughters, Christine Tournat and Julie Smuk; son, Mark Smuk; grandchildren, Damian Tournat, Lisa Schuh and Kenneth Grigsby; and great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Ruby, Sullivan and Kayson.

Raymond Tkalcich
Raymond Tkalcich, 70, of Ely, passed away at his home on Sept. 1, 2020, after a five-year battle with cancer. Interment will be at the Ely Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by John and Eden Tkalcich, Joe and Tami Tkalcich, Travis, and his “significant friend,” Ann Spangler.