Obituaries

Apr 19, 2020

Grace A. (Carollo) Samuelian, age 94, formerly of Warwick, RI, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2020, at the Benedictine Living Community in Duluth.  She was the wife of the late Leon Samuelian; they were married for 64 years.  She lived in Warwick for most of her life before moving to Duluth  in November 2014, to be close to...

Apr 18, 2020

Eugene F. Cuypers, 89, of Duluth, died on Saturday April 18, 2020 at his residence.  He was born in Marshall, MN on November 17, 1930.  Eugene was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of 16 years and had served with the Seabee’s for 16 years.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, and taking trips to the casino.

He was...

Apr 18, 2020

Barbara Jean Therese Perry (OCDS) passed away at 89 years old on Saturday, April 18th, 2020 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Proctor.  Here she resided the last five years.  She was born on October 5, 1930 to Gladys and Leo Perry.  Barb was a lifelong resident of Duluth and spent her life taking care of her dearest mother....

Apr 17, 2020

On April 17, 2020 Sandra (Sandy) Kay Schultz Ingvaldson, loving partner and mother of two children, passed away from a short battle with cancer. Sandy was born on March 18, 1954 in Hallock, MN to Felix and Esther Eifert.  She graduated from Wadena High School and received an Associate of Art degree in Social Work from Itasca Community College....

Apr 16, 2020

On April 16th, 2020, Dr. Mark J. Plachta, a beloved husband, father, physician, and friend, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60. Throughout his 33-year career in Duluth, MN, he healed the bodies and brought comfort to the spirits of thousands of his patients and their family members throughout the Northland. Mark saw the practice of medicine as...

Apr 16, 2020

Scott E. Mershon, 70, of Duluth, died Thursday, April 16th in the Benedictine Health Center. Scott was born in Duluth on Feb. 8, 1950 to Richard Sellwood Mershon and Dorothy (Salyards) Mershon.  He graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School and attended UMD.  He worked construction from 1968-74 and then was in sales with Food Service of America and Gamble...

Apr 16, 2020

Duluth native Margaret E. Bujold (Arimond) died at the Benedictine Living Community on April 16, 2020. Born in 1923, Margaret lived all but a few of her 96 years in Duluth. She graduated from Denfeld High School, attended St. Scholastica and was employed at First National Bank (Duluth).

Margaret was a member of the Duluth Symphony Chorus,...

Apr 15, 2020

Ilse Hertel, 89, went to be with the Lord on December 15th, 2020.

Ilse was born in Hassfurt Germany to Georg and Mathilda and resided in Duluth, MN after migrating to the US where she worked many years at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was a devout Catholic who loved knitting, reading, crossword puzzles in German,...

Apr 15, 2020

John Urban Mitchell, 90, died April 20, 2020 at the Marywood unit at Benediction Health

Center in Duluth, with his family by his side.

John was born October 23, 1929 to Isabelle (O'Grady) and James Chester Mitchell in Minneapolis. He graduated from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault MN. He attended the University of MN in Minneapolis,...

Apr 15, 2020

John “Jack” Patrick Sullivan was a caring father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He left this world on December 18, 2020, at Solvay Hospice House, at 86 years old.

He was born to Joseph and Alyce Sullivan on May 22, 1934 in Superior, WI. He was the fifth of 10 boys. From a very young age, Jack began...

Apr 15, 2020

Randy Scott Koskela, age 57 of Duluth passed away March 2, 2020 at Essentia Health - St. Mary’s Medical Center.  Randy loved cars and playing his video games. He is survived by his children that he loved very much, Ashlee Bolts, Scott Koskela, Brandon Koskela, Kaitlyn Husted and Brianna Koskela, sister Doreen (Jeff) Lajiness, many special aunts, uncles and...

Apr 15, 2020

Donna Mae Stewart (Knudtsen)

"I'm fat and sassy and mean as ever and I'm not going to change" was Donna's response to whoever asked her how she was. Donna was sassy, but she was never mean to anyone. In fact, Donna never met a person she didn't like.

Donna was a true Duluthian. Donna was...

Apr 15, 2020

Mary B. (Lonn) Johnson, 82, died December 6, 2020, in Duluth. She was born in Leith, ND and graduated from Duluth Central in 1957. Mary attended UMD and married Kenneth H. Johnson in 1962. She retired from St. Luke’s Hospital in 2001. She loved every moment she spent with family and friends. Survivors include her sons, Wayne (Shelli) and...

Apr 15, 2020

Laura S. Budd, social butterfly extraordinaire, died in her home on February 3, 2020, in Duluth, MN.  She was born in 1939. Laura S. Budd lived her life with a deep love for her husband, her children, grandchildren, her community, travel, and the church. She was the daughter of Frederick A. and Laura S. Stock and the wife of...

Apr 12, 2020

Shirlea M. Gilsdorf passed peacefully into the hands of her Lord on Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Primrose Retirement Community, Duluth, MN.  Shirlea was born in Detroit Lakes, MN. on March 22, 1933 to the late Harold E. and Victoria L. Madison.  She married William J. Gilsdorf on June 26, 1954 and shortly after moved to Los Angeles, CA....

Apr 8, 2020

James Alan “Jim” Rectenwald of Duluth MN, passed away on April 8, 2020 with his family by his side. Jim was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 1, 1933 to Catherine (Staub) and Jacob Alphonse Rectenwald. He was proceeded in death by his parents, and sister Norma Piel. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary...

Apr 5, 2020

Clifford H. Solem, 85 of Duluth, died Sunday, April 5, 2020 in his home. Cliff was born Jan. 30, 1935 in Duluth to Henry and Astrid Solem.  He was a farmer, truck driver in the mines, mechanic, inventor, fabricator and owner of Cliff Solem and Son’s.  He married Mary Lou Abrahamson on December 1, 1956.  He was a member...

Apr 2, 2020

On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Richard “Rich” J. Hogan, retired Chiropractor, went peacefully to be with his heavenly Father surrounded by his loving family.  Rich was born March 10, 1930 in Duluth to Robert and Viola Hogan.  He graduated from Superior Cathedral, attended UWS and graduated from the Logan Chiropractic College in St. Louis, MO.  He met the love...

Apr 1, 2020

Elsie M. Aho Kovala, 86, of Duluth, passed away on Wednesday April 1, 2020 at the Franciscan Health Center.  She was born in Virginia, MN on January 20, 1934 to Oscar and Selma Aho.  Elsie had worked at Maurice’s in the special-order department.  She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and the Altar Guild...

Mar 31, 2020

Clair O. Nelsen died peacefully at home with his family by his side, on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at the age of 84.

Clair was born on September 2, 1935 to the late Melvin and Hazel Nelsen. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1953, and then attended Barber School in St. Paul, MN. After moving...