Obituaries

Sue (Finnesgard) Tomsich, age 68, of Prior Lake, MN, passed peacefully at her home on January 20, 2022. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday January 31st at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 N Berens Rd NW, Prior Lake, MN with Pastor Korla Masters presiding. Visitation time will be held two hours prior to services from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Spring Lake Cemetery, Prior Lake following the Celebration of Life.

Paul Bernard Riegert, Gaboomiigizinini (Standing bald eagle man), age 52, of Mahnomen, MN, died on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at his home.
Paul was born on July 23, 1969, in Detroit Lakes, MN, to Leo and Germaine (Bray) Riegert and was raised in Waubun, MN. He graduated from Waubun High School with the class of 1987 and furthered his education at Vermilion Community College where he majored in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. Paul was in his element when he was in the woods, which became his spiritual place of serenity and peace. At a young age, he earned the nickname “Boone” among his brothers and sisters because of a natural talent for hunting and trapping that continued into his adult life.

David Michael Mayen, 76, passed away at his temporary residence in Babbitt from natural causes.

David was born Oct. 31, 1945, in St. Paul, Minn., to George and Virginia Mayen. He graduated from St. Paul’s Johnson High School, and was one of the nation’s first computer programmers, working as a computer system analyst for many prominent companies across the U.S., while traveling with his family across the nation as work required. In 1980 he settled in Ely, the place he loved most of all.

He is survived by children: Russell Mayen, Debra (Craig) Pulley, Amber Mayen; mother of children, Carol Saatela; grandchildren: Megan Pulley, Anna Mills, Morgan Entner; brothers: Jeff Mayen, Michael (Joan) Mayen, Gary (Rayette) Mayen; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents, George and Virginia Mayen of North Branch; brother, Steven Mayen of Bovey; his grandparents; many special aunts and uncles; and nephew, Brandon Mayen.

Harold Joseph ‘Joe’ Domich Jr. died on January 7, 2022, from Myeloma Cancer. He died at his daughter’s home in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.
Joe was born on August 12, 1943, in Washington D.C. He was the son of Harold and Alta (Patterson) Domich. Joe grew up on the east coast where his parents worked at Gallaudet College, but he spent his summers at the family cabin on Burntside Lake, canoeing, fishing, and swimming with his cousin and life-long friend, Jerry Helbacka.
Joe graduated from the University of Maryland in 1969 with a degree in Information Management.
Over his life, Joe had multiple careers. He worked as an editor and technology manager for the Association and Education of the Deaf. He sold real estate in Florida for Century 21, worked for Bell South as a telephone repair man, and was a contributor to the Ely Echo and Babbitt Weekly News.

Jennie Anne Parden, age 94, of Hayden, ID, formerly of Post Falls, ID, and a sixty plus year resident of Virginia, MN, passed from this world into God’s hands on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living in Hayden.
Jennie was born in 1927 to Simon and Johanna (Brince) Zupin in Ely, MN, where she grew up and developed her love of the great outdoors. Her parents were first generation immigrants, and Jennie grew up fluent in English and Slovenian. She was a 1945 honors graduate of Ely Memorial High School, where she worked on the school newspaper. She also enjoyed working as a waitress at Vertin’s Café and was the Miss Ely runner-up. Jennie was recruited from her studies at the Ely Community College to become a secretary for US Steel (formerly Oliver Mining Company) in Virginia, MN, where she met her husband, John B. (“Jack”) Parden.

Elizabeth Ann Pearson, 82, of Isabella passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Elizabeth was born November 15, 1939 in Duluth, to Edward and Gladys (Forbort) Mosack.
She was a graduate of Central High School, class of 1957.
During a blind date arranged by friends, she met the love of her life Thomas R. Pearson. They married in 1962 in Duluth. They lived in Illinois and Minneapolis before moving their family to “God’s Country” in 1983, where they owned and operated the Stony River Bait Shop and Café for the past 38 years.
Liz enjoyed sports, music, road trips, and dining out. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and visiting with friends. She was an exceptional wife, mom, grandma, sister, and auntie who supported her family with love and devotion.

Jennie Anne Parden, age 94, of Hayden, ID, formerly of Post Falls, ID, and a sixty plus year resident of Virginia, MN, passed from this world into God’s hands on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living in Hayden.
Jennie was born in 1927 to Simon and Johanna (Brince) Zupin in Ely, MN, where she grew up and developed her love of the great outdoors. Her parents were first generation immigrants, and Jennie grew up fluent in English and Slovenian. She was a 1945 honors graduate of Ely Memorial High School, where she worked on the school newspaper. She also enjoyed working as a waitress at Vertin’s Café and was the Miss Ely runner-up. Jennie was recruited from her studies at the Ely Community College to become a secretary for US Steel (formerly Oliver Mining Company) in Virginia, MN, where she met her husband, John B. (“Jack”) Parden.

Matthew Scott Smolen, age 53, passed away peacefully in his home in Ely on January 19, 2022.
Matt was born on December 27, 1969, in Gary, Indiana, to Thomas and Mary Frances Smolen. He graduated from Highland Sr. High School in 1987 and continued his education at Purdue University and Vermilion Community College. Matt enjoyed going to Fortune Bay, playing Texas hold ‘em, having the companionship of his many dogs through the years, watching football and baseball (Go, Cubs!), and attending his nieces’ and nephews’ sporting events.

John Andrew Debeltz, 83 years young of Ely MN, passed away January 17, 2022 at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, brother & pastor.
John was born in Ely on May 13, 1938 to Joseph and Anne (Amitrano) Debeltz and was a life-long resident of Ely. He was a hard loyal worker from an early age working with his father as a masonry, worked at the Zenith mine until it shut down then married his wife Cheryl of 57 years soon after he started working at the Reserve Mine. After Reserve shut down he worked for Razor’s Edge until he retired. He was a long-time member and also had many positions at the Ely Gospel Church
John was always there to lend a helping hand to whomever and with whatever was needed, and was loved by very many.
You may have seen him being walked by his Shih Tzu dog Trixie, shopping at Zup’s or driving in his GMC truck through town.

​John B. Barich, Sr., 86, of Ely, Minnesota passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022 at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital.

Johnny was born in Ely on April 23, 1935 and was a life-long Ely resident. On January 15, 1955 he married Bonnie Maddern.

John was a proud life-long miner who retired in 1997. He had many other employment experiences over the years including delivering fuel oil, working for the Ely schools, and driving school bus.

When he was not working or caring for his family, Johnny very much enjoyed performing with his brothers Bernie and George in the Barich Brothers Polka Band.

John was a proud member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely. He was known by many around town and will be remembered for his caring nature, kindness, and his sense of humor.