Obituaries

Lindskog, Erik Marshall age 70
Erik died recently of an apparent heart attack at his home on Burntside Lake. He was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman. After retiring from his surveying career in South Dakota, Colorado and Minneapolis, he moved to his beloved Minnesota Northwoods. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marsha and Joe Rokke, nephew Chris Rokke, niece Jennifer Wennerberg (Adam), grandniece Charlotte Wennerberg, grandnephew James Rokke, aunt June Remme and many much loved cousins and friends. The last line of his will - "leave to all my family and friends my Eternal Love and best wishes."

Tom Marvin Erkkila, age 60 of Sandstone, MN lost his courageous battle with cancer November 7th 2020 surrounded by his loved ones.
Tom was born on September 6, 1960 to Marvin and Grace Erkkila. Tom grew up in Babbit, Mn and later moved to Sandstone where he lived with the love of his life, Ramona O’Donnell for the past 25 years.
Tom was an avid outdoorsman and loved being in the woods and feeding the deer. He loved spending time with the grandkids; taking them on tractor rides, going to college hockey games. Tom also loved sharing his knowledge of the outdoors with others. He worked for Donald Selander as a Machinist at Snobike Machine for 38 years. Cooking breakfast for his family brought him great joy! Tom was a great man and loved by many.

Anthony P. Merhar, 69, of Babbitt, passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Boundary Waters Care in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Ann Marie Bye, 72, of Ely, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Arrangements are pending with Range Funeral Home in Hibbing.

Michael W. Baldwin, 85, of Babbitt, passed award Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Funeral arrangements are pending with the Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Feudor Aijala, 84, Silver Bay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.
Feudor was born on April 20, 1936 to Felder and Saima (Mattson) Aijala in Ely where he grew up and attended Ely Junior College. Feudor continued his education at the University of MN- Duluth, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Education and later a Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota. Moving to Silver Bay, Feudor taught 6th grade for 34 years, specializing in Social Studies. He had a love of history and was a great storyteller.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed turkey hunting in the Black Hills and fishing the northern lakes. He also enjoyed listening to music.
Feudor was fond of his heritage and enjoyed collecting Finnish Puukko knives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Ruth and Arleen.

Norma Kramar
On a warm summer day on June 22nd 1929, Norma arrived in the world. She was born on the family farm near Foley, MN to proud parents Anna and Ernest Eckholm. The family grew over the next few years, adding siblings Harvey, Clyde and Byron. Norma graduated from Foley High School and attended St Cloud State University, graduating with a teaching degree.
After graduation, Norma taught in the communities Ogilvie, Crosby and Forest Lake. Her summers were filled with adventures. One summer, Norma travelled to Alaska with some other teachers to teach Inuit children at the fishing villages. Another summer, she and some friends went to Europe, travelling from Italy to Sweden. She stopped in Germany to visit her brother Harvey, who was stationed there at the time.

Feudor Aijala, 84, Silver Bay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.
Feudor was born on April 20, 1936 to Felder and Saima (Mattson) Aijala in Ely where he grew up and attended Ely Junior College. Feudor continued his education at the University of MN- Duluth, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Education and later a Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota. Moving to Silver Bay, Feudor taught 6th grade for 34 years, specializing in Social Studies. He had a love of history and was a great storyteller.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed turkey hunting in the Black Hills and fishing the northern lakes. He also enjoyed listening to music.
Feudor was fond of his heritage and enjoyed collecting Finnish Puukko knives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Ruth and Arleen.

Max A. Zoretic, 88, formerly of Ely, Babbitt, and Zephyrhills FL, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2020 in Silver Bay MN.
He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1950 along with his high school sweetheart, Jean Nordstrom. Max proudly served in combat for the Minnesota Army National Guard 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He then worked as a welder for Reserve Mining Company and also owned/operated a Roto Rooter franchise.
Max married his high school sweetheart Jean in 1955 and moved to Ely where they raised their five daughters on Beacon Hill. In 1993, they became "snowbirds" enjoying retirement life in Florida.
Max was preceded in death by his loving wife Jean of 53 years in 2008, grandson Jon Max Rice, brother Vince and sister Bernadine.

Julia “Julie” Claire (Nystrom) Palombi passed away surrounded by family in Cloquet, Minnesota on October 31, 2020 after a years-long battle with dementia.

Julie was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1946 and spent the majority of her childhood and adult life in Babbitt and Ely. Julie was passionate about fishing, hunting, and enjoying the outdoors. Early in her career, Julie worked as a teacher and basketball coach in Ely.