Obituaries

Robert E. “Bob” Springer, age 81, passed away peacefully with family by his side at his home in Pequot Lakes, MN, on Friday, October 23, 2020. He was born to Edwin and Nora Springer on October 26, 1938, in Pequot Lakes. Bob and Eileen met in Kelly Lake, MN, and were married in Hibbing, MN, moving to Ely, MN to live and raise their family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Eileen; children: Wayne (Cheryl) Springer, Vicki Springer, Randy (Suzanne) Springer, Julie Tangen; grandchildren: Megan, Matthew and Aaron Springer, April (Cody) Hoisington, Angela (Patrick) Shea, Cody and Nicole Springer, Logan, Desirea and McKenzie Tangen; sister, Darlene Jarvis; and great grandchildren: Colton, Sage, Parker, Cam, Nora and Haley.

Irene Bergeron Grahek was granted her angels wings on October 20th 2020. She was 90 years old. Irene was born to Eugenie (Jane) and Peter Bergeron in Oklee Minnesota on August 20th 1930. Irene was the youngest of 6 six children and came into this world as a surprise! As a child she loved to roller skate with her brother Ernie. They were so good people nicknamed them Fred and Ginger!

Muriel E. “Babs” Maldeis, of Rapid City, died Monday, October 19, 2020 at a local health care facility.
She was born in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England to Stuart and Muriel (Pratt) Joyce.
Babs grew up in Clacton-on-Sea and in 1945 she became a war bride, marrying Lewis F. Maldeis, a US Army Air Corps supply Sgt. She entered the United States on May 6th, 1946 at New York City. They lived in Baltimore where she became an American citizen on January 14, 1952. They lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois and finally settled down in Ely, Minnesota where Babs was active in her church and church guilds and was active with the Ely Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Sled Dog Committee.
After Lewis passed away, Babs moved in with her son, Mark in Rapid City in 1993. She became an active member in the British Wives Club, serving as vice president and president and Emmanuel Episcopal Church E.C.W.

Mary Jo Wiermaa Godt, age 68, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 in Augusta Georgia.
She was born on February 28, 1952 to Julien and Elsie Wiermaa. She is survived by Robert, her husband of 44 years. Her stepdaughter Heidi Godt (Sue) her Mother Elsie, sisters Amy Hoit (Mel), Susan Milleville (Greg), Alyssa Hawn (Jeff) brother John Wiermaa and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her brother Brian and Father Julien.
Mary Jo graduated from J.F. Kennedy High School in Babbitt and Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She obtained her masters and PhD from the University of Georgia. She was a professor at the U of GA in botany(genetics) in Athens.
Even though Mary Jo lived in Georgia for many years, she loved coming home to northern Minnesota. Family was everything to her. She loved to read, garden, and cook wonderful meals. She rescued, cared for and loved her many dogs and cats.

Louise Groom, 90, died on October 9, 2020 at Cherrywood Advanced Living in Andover, MN. She was born on February 21, 1930 to Arthur and Elizabeth (Kulhman) Hietala in Finlayson, MN. Louise moved to Ely, MN as a young adult where she met and married Leonard M. Groom Sr., in 1948. She retired after working at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital for 33 years. Family was Louise’s priority. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Cooking, baking, knitting, fishing, and playing BINGO were her favorite activities.

Charles "Chuck" Evancevich, 61, of Babbitt, passed away on Friday, October 9, 2020 at Essentia Health- St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Barbara Altavilla, 85, was spiritually reborn on October 5, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. Barbara was born March 26, 1935, in London, England, to Joseph and Ethel (Jones) Rayner. She met Robert James Altavilla at the tender age of 17 when he was stationed in the United Kingdom with the U.S. Air Force. Barbara arrived in Minnesota on May 1, 1954, to marry “her American” on June 12, 1954. Bob and Barb shared 66 years of marriage, raising their three children on the Iron Range. One of Barbara’s greatest joys was gardening, as flowers flourished under her care. She couldn’t be happier in her garden, wearing a new pair of sandals, eating a bar of Cadbury chocolate, sipping English tea and listening to her favorite music. Barbara always had a camera nearby and captured albums full of memories. A voracious reader, Barbara immersed herself in Ancient Egypt, extraterrestrial civilizations, the life of Jesus and the history of Native Americans.

Roslyn Marie (Urbas) Perko, passed away on October 5th, 2020 due to complications of COVID-19 at the Carefree Living Center.
A lifelong resident of Ely, Roslyn was born on June 5, 1929 to Francis (Gorshe) and Frank Urbas. As a young adult, she worked as a secretary for the Ely Chamber of Commerce where she met the love of her life. John Perko. They were married May 20, 1950. They had two children, Kathleen and Daniel.
Roslyn was a homemaker and a wonderful cook, with lots of old Slovenian recipes from her mother, which has been passed down to her family. She was a loving grandmother to her three granddaughters, as well as many children in the neighborhood.

Dale “Bo” Allen Wiersema, 64, passed away after a very short battle with metastatic melanoma of the brain, on Sunday September 27, 2020 at his residence in Glen, Minnesota.
Dale “Bo” was born on February 4, 1956 to parents Rosemary (Huizenga) and Bud Wiersema in Morrison, Illinois. He graduated from Prophetstown High school and attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. While attending Central College he helped the Central Dutch football team win the 1974 NCAA Division III championship.
Dale “Bo” worked for many years in farming, construction, asbestos abatement and resort caretaking. He was a real “Jack of all Trades”. Bo loved to garden, fish, camping, doing woodwork, doing things with his granddaughter, Mykaela Emily and listening to his favorite, John Prine. He always had a big bear hug for you and a great joke to share. He was kind and welcomed everyone.

Ralph A. Lassi, 85, of Lakeland, Florida died on October 1, 2020 from complications from cancer treatment.

He was born on July 5, 1935 in Ely, Minnesota to Toimi (Doc) Lassi and Mary (Gorshe) Lassi. He graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1953, and two years later from the Ely Junior College where he earned the Associate Degree in Business Administration.

He worked at an early age at many jobs during summers and after school. During his teen years he was a fishing guide at Borderline Lodge on Pipestone Bay on Basswood Lake. This was the beginning of a lifelong love and communion with the lake, which he visited as often as he could with family and friends during the next 50 plus years. He also guided canoe parties in the BWCA and Canadian Quetico Park for the Border Lakes Canoe Outfitters located in Winton, MN.