Obituaries

Grace Louise Thureen, 83, of Two Harbors died Thursday, October 14, 2021 at Chris Jensen Health in Duluth.
Louise was born on October 1, 1938 to William T. and Joyce (Stone) Corum in San Francisco, CA where she grew up. In 1957, she married Frank Leoni and together they moved to Ely, MN. Louise had 5 children and worked in a variety of administrative jobs while her children were young. During this time, she was active in her church and doing religious writing and photography. Later, Louise was employed as Assessor for Fall Lake Township, the Ely and Hibbing City Assessor’s Offices, and worked on special projects for Lake County Assessor’s Office. Louise was also the Editor of Equal Eyes Magazine, a professional journal of Minnesota Assessors. She was also instrumental in breaking the glass ceiling by becoming the first female President of the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers.

Gerald C. (Jake) Jacobson, 79, passed away on October 17, 2021 after a battle with cancer.
Jake was born in Franklin, MN to Carl and Sylvia (Harder) Jacobson on May 9, 1942. He attended school in Sleepy Eye, MN, graduating in 1960.
Jake joined the Air Force after graduation, being stationed in Duluth, MN and then Hurlburt Field/Eglin AFB, FL.
He married Susanne Kauppi in 1964 and they had three children.
After retiring from the Air Force, they came to Ely, MN, Sue’s hometown. Jake worked for the City of Ely as a Police and Fire Dispatcher and Fire Truck Driver.
He is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Barbara (David Stone) Anderson, sons Steven (Molly) Jacobson, and Lee (Cristin McMullen) Jacobson; grandchildren Jessica Anderson, Emily Jacobson, Lindsay Jacobson, Sam Jacobson; sisters: Joyce (Scott) Seifert, Lorraine Haas; brothers: Larry (Susan) Jacobson and David (Julie) Jacobson.

Clarence W. Ivonen, age 99 years, a longtime resident of Virginia died Friday, October 8, 2021 in the Waterview Pines in Virginia. He born September 28, 1922 in Butte, MT the son of Risto and Lydia (Salmi) Ivonen. Clarence was raised in Ely, MN, graduating in 1940 from Ely Memorial High School and the Ely Junior College in 1942.
He served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Chicago and Washington D.C. in the Casualty Division.
Post war he attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1948 with a degree in journalism.
His journalism career began at International Fall, MN Daily Journal, in 1949; he transferred to the Range Facts {Mesabi Daily News} Virginia, MN and remained until his retirement in 1984 as managing editor. Clarence wrote a feature column: “Now and Then by Ivonen”.
Clarence married Eila Nurminen of Pori, Finland on June 12, 1954 in Ely. Together they made 33 trips to Finland and other countries.

Donald F. Beland, 88, a proud US Veteran, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021 at the Ely Bloomenson Hospital. Per Don’s request there will be no services.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Carol Marie Palmer, 84, of Yuba City, CA, passed away at home on September 28, 2021. Born in Duluth, MN, to Arvo and Lillian Knuutti on June 11, 1937. Carol grew up in Ely, MN, on a family dairy farm, then moved to California.

She worked for 30 years as an analyst for the California Highway Patrol until her retirement in 1995. She was a member of Calvary Christian Center for many years and had a deep love for our Lord and Savior. She enjoyed helping with Sidewalk Kids Visitation Ministry while she was still physically able. Carol loved spending her peaceful time at her cabin in the northern Minnesota woods.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Rachelle Marie Torres (Tony) of Yuba City, CA; and sons, Russell Everett Richey (Jennie) of Camas, WA, and Ryan Edward Richey (Kim) of Vancouver, WA; 8 grandsons; 10 great-grandchildren; and 2 brothers, Allan (Carrie) Knuutti, and Arthur Knuutti, both of Ely, MN.

James V. Pinckney, 85, of Ely, a U.S. Veteran, passed away at his residence on Thursday, September 30, 2021. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Carl Ambrose Buraglio
Age 80 of Oakdale, passed away September 20, 2021.

Mark R. Palser passed away peacefully on September 11, 2021 at Interfaith Care Center with his loving wife by his side. Mark was born on February 26, 1953 in Julesburg Colorado.
He wrestled for and graduated from Scottsbluff Senior High School in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
He went on to be a very talented, high end hairdresser in Nebraska and then Arizona, where he eventually met the love of his life Liz. Mark had a zest for life and a love of Adventure and the outdoors. He and Liz went on to guide H1 hummer adventures in the mountains and of Arizona. Their love for the outdoors eventually brought them to Ely, MN where they started Minnesota’s first and only off road tour company - The Big Truck - and a $1 in town ride service with Mark’s faithful companion Hummer Dog.

Barbara Jean Rahkola, 68, resident of Cromwell, died unexpectedly in her home on September 16th, 2021. She was born in Cloquet, MN to James Buehre and Arlene Lukanen on June 20th, 1953.
Barb grew up in Babbitt and attended school there. She spent her life devoted to food and meal preparation for numerous facilities including Interfaith Care Center in Carlton and Minnesota Department of Corrections in Moose Lake. Barb was proud of the volunteer hours she spent working with Ruby’s Pantry through the years. Her hobbies including visiting with family and friends on the phone, socializing in any form, canning foods from her garden, and owning and operating her own greenhouse, Green Acres. Barb will be remembered for her stubborn yet loving ways, and for all of the memorable conversations she leaves behind.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Buehre and Arlene (Larry) Morris; brother, James Lanhart; sister, Sandra Russo; partner, Richard Huhta.

Andrea R. Bailey, 73, of Ely, passed away at the Vermillion Senior Living Center in Tower. Per Andrea's request there'll be no services. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.