Obituaries

​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.

Frances “Frana” Marie Cherico was a caring individual, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world suddenly on January 14, 2022 at age 77.
She was born to Adolph and Marie Dolenshak on April 8, 1944. After graduating from high school, Frana chased her dreams and traveled the country, she had married and had 3 children: Tony Cherico of Bentonville, AR, Sean & Karla Cherico of Sedan, KS, and Nicole & Darren Wallace of Frisco, TX and 6 grandchildren: Rico, Griffin, Luciano and Atelen Cherico, Austin and Channing Wallace and 1 great grandchild: Beckham Cherico. She leave this world with 2 sisters Darlene Leek and Adrienne Micklich and one brother Rudy Dolenshak. She proceeds death with one sister Mary Jean Krizner and her parents.

Linda Fryer, 72 of Ely, passed away on Thursday, January13, 2022 at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.

Long time Ely resident and retired Chamber of Commerce Administrative Director Linda Fryer’s impact on her family and community didn’t come to an end with her death. Linda passed away in Duluth, Minnesota on January 13, 2022 at the age of 72 while surrounded by family and friends who had come from all over the country to be by her side and honor her legacy.

Linda was born on February 28, 1949 to Gordon and Dorothy (Wooten) Fryer in Augusta, GA. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Indiana State and master’s degree from Indiana University, she taught physical education in Indiana before visiting, falling in love with, and eventually moving to Ely.

Sarah Allison (Rayman) Kingston, 66, of Ely, MN, passed away peacefully Friday, December 3rd, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, at the Solvay Hospice House, Duluth, MN.
Sarah was born March 28th, 1955 in Austin, MN to Dr. Frederick and Jaqueline (Callies) Rayman Jr. After graduating from Austin High School, Sarah earned her BA Degree from St. Cloud State University and later earned her Master’s Degree from Regis University.

Mark E. Miklaucic, 61, of Ely, passed away at on Saturday, January, 8th, 2022.
Mark past away peacefully and was lifted to Heaven after a long battle with colon cancer.
Mark was born in Ely and was a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Ely Memorial High in 1978. Mark also attended Dakota Technical truck driving school and became a long haul driver and traveled the U.S. just as he wanted to do. He then moved on to Alexandria Technical College where he graduated with high honors in avionics.
Mico then started his career as the mild mannered cable technician for Ely and the surrounding area for 20+ years. He also worked at Fortune Bay as a camera technician.
Mico loved spending time with his dear friends - camping, fishing, watching the Vikes, Twins, NASCAR, or just chillin. He also adored his dogs Sam, Jasper, and Coco over the years.
Preceded in death by his parents Elizabeth and Edward Miklaucic. Mark is survived by one brother Jim.

Anne Marie Levar (Shober) born May 24th, 1931 died January 8th 2022. She was born in Leadville, Colorado. She came to Ely, MN in 1954 where she worked at Sterbenks Cafe. She met her husband Adolph at Sterbenks Cafe, and they married in 1956.
Throughout Anne’s life she loved to gather people together, crochet, have polka parties with friends and family. She took joy in caring for so many children in Ely that she was Mother of the Year.
There was always an abundance of love family and friends at Anne’s home. She went above and beyond duty as Mother, Grandmother and friend.
Anne loved to bake cookies with her granddaughter and spent a lot of time in the kitchen frying fish that her and her family caught from the many days they spent fishing together. Anne loved to play cards at her cabin. She was a proud member of the Slovenian Union and loved the Zarja magazine.

Glenn A. Biebl, 87, of Ely, passed away at Carefree Assisted Living in Babbitt, on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
Glenn Arlen Biebl - 5/24/34 – 1/6/22
Glenn has reunited with his beloved wife JoAnn, and what a full life he lived! Glenn grew up on a farm in Barnum, Minnesota, the youngest of three boys. He met his future wife, JoAnn in high school where they graduated together in 1952. Because of the opportunities that mining provided, Glenn and JoAnn moved to Winton in 1957 and then to Ely in 1966, so Glenn could work at Reserve Mining. Glenn spent his career working as a conductor on the railroad for Reserve. He also earned a carpentry degree at Eveleth Tech during a Reserve shutdown. Glenn used those carpentry skills when he and his son, Brian, built a beautiful log home overlooking Shagawa Lake.

Nancy Lynn Kasa, 78, of Red Wing, died Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Bayview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born November 24, 1943 in St. Paul to Richard and Geraldine (Perham) Floyd. She grew up in Eveleth and graduated from Eveleth-Gilbert High School. She married Harland Kasa in July 13, 1963 in Ely. They later divorced. When her children were mostly grown, she attended the University of Wisconsin, River Falls where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She moved to Red Wing in 1990 and worked as a social worker for Goodhue County for 25 and a half years. Following her retirement, she continued to work part time for the county supervising parental visits. She also volunteered at the Red Wing food shelf and Care Clinic. She enjoyed reading and traveling to her grandchildren’s activities. She liked to take her grandchildren to theater, ensuring them a diverse cultural experience. She was also a great cook.

George W. Gray, age 84 of Ely, MN passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Diamond Willow in Cloquet, MN. He was born May 23, 1937, in Sturgeon Lake, MN, the son of Hartley and Augusta (Cunningham) Gray. George’s family moved from Sturgeon Lake to Rush City when he was a young boy, and then to Ely when he was 17. He was united in marriage to Mary Louise Bianchi at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely on July 8, 1961. George worked as a railroad conductor for Reserve Mining and also Northshore Mining. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and especially playing cribbage.

Kenneth J. Kostelac, age 82, of Forest Lake, MN, a loving husband, dad, grandpa passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2021.
Preceded in death by parents, Joe & Bessie; sister, Kathleen Max.
Survived by loving wife of 51 years, Mary; children, Heidi and Kevin (Brenda); grandchildren, Colin & Kayla; brothers-in-law, Arlyn Max, William (Barbara) Doebler; nieces, Elizabeth Max and Suzie Haires; nephew, Greg Doebler; other relatives and dear friends.
Ken was a devoted elementary school teacher in the White Bear Lake School district for 33 years. A celebration of life gathering 2-4 p.m. Friday, January 7th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Roberts Family Funeral Home. 651-464-4422
RobertsFamilyFH.com