Obituaries

Karl Rukavina, 88, of Winton, a proud Korean War Veteran, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Gregory Lynn “Greg” Askeland, 64, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, December 1, 2019 of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 6, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Pastor David Carlson will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Greg was born March 4, 1955 in Estherville, Iowa. He had recently relocated to Sioux City, Iowa, a city he loved and the place where he had raised his children, Katy Herbold and Eric Askeland, with their mother Susan Askeland.

Robert L. “Bob” Bodine, 80, of Virginia passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Essentia Health Northern Pines Nursing Home in Aurora.

He was born February 25, 1939 in Soudan to Bernard and Lempi (Kultala) Bodine; grew up in Soudan and graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in 1957. Bob was active in the Tower-Soudan High School Band and the Soudan Band. He graduated from Ely Junior College and Stout State University in Menomonie, WI.

Bob was united in marriage to Paulette R. Nikkinen on April 9, 1960 in Ely. He resided in Ely, Tower and Babbitt and had been a Virginia resident since 1996,

He was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia, a former member of United Steelworkers Union local 4108 of Aurora. Bob worked as a lab technician for Erie Mining Company in Aurora, in the office for Reserve Mining Company in Babbitt and retired in 2001 as a heavy equipment operator for LTV Mining in Aurora after 37 years of service.

Leona June Krensing (nee Smith), age 85, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2019 at Carefree Living in Babbitt, MN after a long illness.
“Tootie” was born on June 2, 1934 in Clear Lake, SD and was raised in Browns Valley, MN where she met her schoolmate and future husband Keith William Krensing. They married on September 2, 1952. In 1956, after Keith’s tour in Korea as an army sergeant, they moved to Babbitt when Keith began working as a foreman with Reserve Mining Company (later North Shore Mining). Together they had six children. Tootie worked at the Babbitt Clinic as a medical secretary and spent many summers behind the counter at the Babbitt Golf Course. They loved their adopted home of Babbitt and enjoyed the area’s great outdoors, sporting events, services and activities at the local Catholic church, and their many friends and acquaintances.

Mark A. Anderson, age 70, of Apple Valley passed away 11/22/19.
Preceded in death by parents, John and Eleanor (Berg) Anderson.
Survived by wife, Jill (Starkey) Anderson; daughter Gina (Andrew) Esby; son Jay Anderson; daughter Leah Anderson; grandchildren Hayley and Edward Esby.
Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, December 8th, 2019 from 1:00-5:00pm at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel (Great River Ballroom).
Memorials preferred to CaringBridge and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. Visit markandersonmemorial.com for further details.

Doris M. Bothun, 88, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2019, at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely.
Doris was born, July 5, 1931, in Rushford, MN, to Elmer and Marilla (Skrukrud) Jacobson. She lived her early life in Rushford and Lanesboro. Her family eventually settled in Chatfield where she graduated from high school in 1950. She married Elroy Bothun on June 13, 1952, and lived there until moving to Babbitt, MN, in 1956.

MARY ANN GOTCHNIK PULIS, 92, of Ely died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. She was born on August 7, 1927 in Ely to Joseph and Mary (Stefin) Gotchnik. She graduated from Ely Memorial High School. She married George Pulis on Feb. 9, 1948 in Ely.
Mary Ann was involved in many church activities and with her love of music starting in Virginia, the “Sweet Adelines” barbershop quartet, community theatre musicals and many choirs that continued in Ely over 70 years.
She started her career in food service as a baker at Britton’s Cafe then went on to Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital to become head cook from 1973 until retiring in 1989.
Realizing that retirement wasn’t for her, she became the very early morning biscuit lady at Hardee’s from its start in Ely. After 5 years, she needed a change and, closer to home, found work at Lucky Seven in their delicatessen for several years.

Lawrence Dale Irving died unexpectedly in his home on November 18, 2019 in Ely, MN at the age of 75.

Dale is survived by his sons Lawrence ‘Chic’ Irving of Ely, MN and Lawrence ‘Bouncer’ Irving, daughters Frances ‘Nikki’ Irving of Nett Lake, MN and Winona ‘Baby Girl’ Smith of Isle, MN, sister Josette Irving of Ft. Thompson, SD, and brother Randy Shields of Ft. Thompson, SD. He is preceded in death by Mother Malvina, Father Lawrence, Brother Schmo and sister Ramona.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1pm, November 26, 2019 at the Kerntz funeral home in Ely, MN. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dale’s life.

Stephanie Jean (Grahek) Boffa, 59, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Essentia Health- St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth with her husband Pat by her side.Stephanie was born on May 1, 1960 to Steve and Frances (Loushin) Grahek in Ely.

Stephanie was a graduate of Ely High School and was employed by the Duluth News Tribune as a secretary. Stephanie was a very caring person,with a great sense of humor, was an excellent cook and baker with pies being her speciality who also loved her pets unconditionally, she also enjoyed gardening and word puzzles. Stephanie married Pat Boffa on February 11, 2017.

She is survived by her husband Pat , her siblings: Steve (Patty), Mary(Jim), Sharon (Jerry) and Damian (Ericka), sisters-in-laws: Roxanne (Brad) Sader and Jill (Dave) Lossing, brother-in -law: Joseph (Patty) Boffa II and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bonnie Joy Adams, age 63, of Ely and formerly of Virginia, Duluth, and Wright, MN and Litchfield, AZ, died Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s in Duluth. She was born August 28, 1956, in Virginia, MN the daughter of Merle and Beverly (Hanson) Adams. She was a 1974 Graduate of Virginia High School and went on to receive her LPN degree from Eveleth Vo-Tech.
Bonnie worked as a Business Support Analyst for the Federal Reserve through Sato/Carlson Wagonlit. She had also worked as a nurse for several years at St. Mary’s in Duluth. She attended the Heritage Trail Bible Church. Bonnie was a member of the Eagles Nest Lake Association and Fireflies. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, swimming, reading, and games.