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Roberta Ruth Stepan, formerly of Ely, August 9, 1939 - January 7, 2020. Roberta R. (Mattila) Stepan, 80, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at Corinth Rehabilitation Suites on the Parkway in Corinth, TX. Born August 9, 1939, in Ely, Minnesota; she was the oldest daughter of the late Robert John Mattila and the late Betty Ruth (Purdy) Mattila. On September 5, 1959, she married Edward Anthony Stepan, who preceded her in death on July 30, 1995. Berta grew up in Ely, Minnesota, about 15 miles from the Canadian border. Her father worked in the iron mines and her mother worked in the ticket office of the Ely Theatre. In her early years they lived in a small 2-bedroom apartment where her mother would fill a washtub with hot water in front of the fire for everyone to take a bath. They lived through the black-outs of World War II, a polio epidemic, and the collapse of the mining tunnels under Shagawa Lake.

Olga Feroni, 97, died on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Waterview Pines facility in Virginia.
Olga was born on July 25, 1922 in Ely, MN to Slovenian immigrants John and Agnes (Zupec) Skraba and was a lifelong resident of Ely until she moved to Virginia in 2005 to be closer to her family. She attended the Ely schools and worked at Tauzell’s store until her marriage to John “Curly” Feroni on August 17, 1946.
She was a devoted wife and mother in addition to working on various craft projects, reading, taking care of the beautiful flowers in her yard, playing cards with her card group, and listening to music. She was a member of the Slovenian Union of America.
Olga is survived by her son Dennis (Mary Lou) of Virginia, her beloved granddaughter Christina (Brien) Lumppio of Saginaw, two great granddaughters Alina and Erika Lumppio, sisters-in-law Myrtle Feroni and Anne Skraba and many nieces and nephews.

Isabel Ahlgren, 95, died in the early hours of Christmas Eve Day, December 24, at her residence in Sun City, Arizona. Isabel and her husband Clifford were the authors of the book, “Lob Trees of the Wilderness” and papers on topics such as “Viability and Fertility of Vacuum Dried Pollen of 5 Needle Pine Species” and “Effects of Prescribed Burning on Soil Microorganisms”. Together, they also developed a rust disease-resistant strain of White Pine.
In retirement, Isabel mastered the art of basket-weaving, eventually teaching and developing her own patterns. She greatly enjoyed visiting Sika, Alaska and learning to add antlers to her baskets.
Isabel was preceded in death by her daughter Molly Ahlgren, her husband Clifford E. Ahlgren, brothers Robert and Joseph Fulton, and parents. Isabel is survived by her son Cliff (Nancy) and grandson Samuel. Isabel enlisted “Research for Life”, of Phoenix, Arizona, in her choice for final arrangements.

Roger Wallace Johnson passed away Sat., Jan. 4th, at 93 years. Born in Chisholm, MN in 1926. Served in the US Army 1945-46; stationed in Sendai, Japan. Married Irene May Peterson on Sept. 3, 1949. Graduated U of MN Institute of Technology. Worked for Electromotive, LaGrange, IL; transferred to General Motors Tech Center, Warren, MI as senior manager staff engineer. Retired to Ely in 1981. Supervisor Fall Lake Township Board. Chair Ely Area Ambulance Study Committee. Drafted re-design layout for Ely Golf Course expansion. Sang bass in community choirs, including Grace Lutheran choir where he was a member. He excelled at Finnish dialect and was known for telling ethnic Finnish jokes.
Roger and Irene had 3 children and recently celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary. Survived by his wife Irene; brother Darrel (Rosemary); daughters Susan Johnson (Daniel Arnold), Becky Johnson, and Jody Johnson (David Paluch); 7 nieces/nephews, 7 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.

Karen Lynn Close, 77, of Ely, passed away at home on Sunday, January 5, 2020. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Linda Blauert, 76, formerly of Babbitt, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at the Guardian Angels Care Center in Elk River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt at 11:00 A.M. with visitation being held one hour prior to the service at the church. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Maria Cecilia Mahl, 77, passed away surrounded by her family on January 1, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.
Cecilia met and married Dick Mahl while she was completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and he was serving in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines. She later earned her Masters degree from Alaska Pacific University.
Cecilia worked in Ely as a laboratory technician for 17 years for the U.S. Forest Service and in 1987 her family relocated to Anchorage, Alaska. She worked for ChemLab and the Department of Interior MInerals Management for 22 years. She and Dick returned to Ely after they retired where she enjoyed the company of terrific friends, playing cards, gardening, fishing and extensive traveling.
Cecilia is survived by her husband Dick, daughters Debbie Peterson and Cherri Forgash; and grandchildren Jennifer Peterson Kerchof (Robert) and Parker Forgash.

William D. Maki, 75, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer and other health complications resulting from it. Bill was born to the late Andrew and Ann Maki on January 23, 1944. He married Jean Miklausich on July 3, 1965 and they enjoyed 54 years together.

Bill attended Ely schools, Vermilion Community College, and University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he earned his degree in business. After graduation, Bill taught accounting courses at Vermilion before becoming its business manager. In 1981, he became the chief financial officer of the Arrowhead Community College Region as its director of administrative services. After 30 years of service to higher education in northern Minnesota, he retired in 1997. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren, as well as being outdoors, gardening, doing projects around the house/cabin and Fortune Bay.

by Tom Coombe
Pronouncements that the Shopko building in Ely was sold appear to be off the mark.
The real estate agent who is marketing the building contradicted Saturday’s claim by Ely Mayor Chuck Novak that the vacant building has a new owner.
“It’s not sold,” said Jeff Houge, an agent for Twin Cities-based Wakota Commercial Advisors. “It’s still available.”
House didn’t directly respond to a published report that the building was “under contract,” and on path to be sold, adding that he “can’t get into details as far as the other project we’re working on.”
“In commercial real estate, something is available until it’s not,” said Houge. “Sometimes deals fall apart.”
Novak, meanwhile, said Monday that two reliable “subsources” provided confirmation of a sale but added he had no other information.

The El Loco Sale is located within T60N R10W Sec 2,3 and T61N R10W Sec 26, 27, 34, 35. The Forest Service will receive sealed bids in public at Ely, Minnesota at 1:00 PM local time on 02/04/2020 for an estimated volume of 363 CCF of Jack Pine sawtimber, 1278 CCF of Red Pine sawtimber, 71 CCF of Spruce sawtimber, 1799 CCF of Aspen pulpwood, 1185 CCF of Pine pulpwood, 144 CCF of Paper Birch and other hardwoods pulpwood, and 1511 CCF of Spruce pulpwood marked or otherwise designated for cutting. In addition, there is within the sale area an unestimated volume of Softwood - Other grn bio cv, and Hardwood - Other grn bio cv that the bidder may agree to remove at a fixed rate. The Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Interested parties may obtain a prospectus from the office listed below.