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Harriet LaVon Wilke
Robert A. Wilke (Kathleen Hannan) of Proctor is mourning the death of his mother, Harriet LaVon Wilke. The former resident of Spirit Lake Manor and Mid Towne Manor, died Wed., May 11, 2005, in St. Elegius (Lake Haven Manor). She was 90.
She was born in Minneapolis to Robert and Eva (Graves) Fairley and had been a Duluth resident most of her life. She graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1933 and from the Duluth Business University in 1935. Harriet married Edward L Wilke on Dec. 28, 1939 in the United Protestant Church of Morgan Park. At the United Protestant Church, she was active with the Ruth Circle, Women’s Fellowship and Church Historian for five years. She was also active with the P.T.A. and loved to knit, crochet and paint sweatshirts.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Edward in 1991.
She is survived by a daughter Sandra E. (Allen) Salo of North Port, Fla., a brother James R. Fairley of Duluth, grandchildren Marie Staie, Rona Costello, Kimberly Wilke, Amy Wilke, Stacy Wilke and Kelly Wilke, six great-grandchildren, a niece and two nephews.
Services were held Monday in the United Protestant Church of Morgan Park. A private family burial took place at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Betty A. Johnson
Betty A. Johnson, who was a founding member of the Pike Lake Riders Saddle Club and served on the Board of the South St. Louis County Fair for 19 years, died Tues., May 24, 2005 in her Midway Rd. home. She was 77.
Betty was born Sept. 5, 1927 in Duluth to Anton and Rose (Pilarski) Brisk. She married Melvin W. Johnson on April 12, 1947 in a snowstorm.
Being a lifelong Pike Lake area resident, Betty worked for several years at Smiths’ Store at Pike Lake. Betty had a lifelong love of horses. She was a member and served as secretary of the ASCA for 27 years. Betty enjoyed knitting, crocheting and teaching ceramic classes. She loved bird watching and visiting with her friends and family, especially her grandchildren. Betty also was a member of the Cloquet VFW Auxiliary.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Walter and Rudolph ‘Pete’ and her sisters Louise Karger and Irene Gielarowski.
She is survived by her husband Melvin W. of Duluth, son Rodney (Melissa) of Grand Rapids, daughter Linda (Alvin) Lout of Center, Texas, grandchildren Ryan (Tara) Johnson of Talmoon, Bryan (LaNea) Johnson of Bovey, Darrin (Annie) Lout and Tanya (Steve) Bush both of Center, Texas and Missy Zapp of Duluth, great grandchildren Kylie, Shawna, Ryan, Hannah, Haleigh and Tyler, a sister Frances Stegora of Brainerd, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services in St. Raphael’s Church, Pike Lake. Burial will be at Canosia Cemetery.
Bernice Marie Viner
Bernice Marie Viner, 85 of Pike Lake, died peacefully Monday, May 23, 2005 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Proctor, October 1, 1919 to Carl and Albina (Jarvis) Bracke. Bernice grew up in Proctor and the Little Falls area, graduating from Little Falls High School in 1937, and the Duluth School of Beauty Culture in 1939.
She married Ellis N. Viner on Dec. 5, 1942 in Philadelphia, near the end of his Naval career. They settled in the Duluth/Superior area following the war. They owned and operated the Brule Tavern for a few years before moving on to West Duluth, and shortly after Pike Lake.
Bernice was a fixture at the Duluth Airport for 35 years, where she was a waitress and security guard. Homeland Security was not an issue when Bernice was on duty. She was well known to her customers and co-workers as "Grandma Bernice".
Her love of family and friendship came naturally. All those that had the privilege of knowing her felt this way. Bernice’s door was always open for coffee and banana bread. She will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Ione Warner and nephew, Bob Guth.
Bernice is survived by her children, Ellis (Aldona) Viner, Cindy (John) Nentl, James Viner, Patti (Richard) McNutt, Jon (Julie) Viner, grandchildren, Karen, Lisa, Jeff, Michael, Mark, Matthew, Jamey, Justin, Jeremy, Jason, and Jay; 17 great-grandchildren (with one on the way!), longtime friend Laurie Pappas, and special care giver Carol Pelletier.
Private family services were held.
Keith Charles “Chuck” Bush
Keith Charles “Chuck” Bush, who grew up in Bayview Heights, graduated from Proctor High School in 1960 and retired from the DM&IR three years ago, died Sun., May 29, 2005 in St. Mary’s Medical Center. The Caribou Lake Road resident was 63.
He was born in Duluth on April 7, 1942 to Blaine and Roseanna (Nelson) Bush. He served in the US Navy from 1960-64 and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1969. He married Kathleen Svatos on August 9, 1969 in Tower, Minn.
Keith taught fifth grade at St. Michael’s School in Duluth in the early 1970’s, and retired from the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway in 2002. He was a longtime youth baseball and basketball coach and an avid golfer and bowler. Keith collected, sold, refurnished and replicated antiques. He enjoyed traveling and hiking with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Kathy.
Keith is survived by his daughter Amy Bush of Walnut Creek, Calif., sons Christopher of Oakland, Calif. and Anthony and Nathan, both of Duluth, sisters Marjorie (Gerald) Lind of Midway, Marilyn (Duane) Reno and Betsy (Wayne) Amendola, brothers Blaine of Lake San Marcos, Calif. and Curtis of Cloquet, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Fri., June 3, 2005 in the Cremation Society of Minnesota Chapel, 4100 Grand Ave. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Duluth Preservation Alliance would be appreciated.
Margaret Eleanor Pavlatos
Margaret Eleanor Pavlatos, who was one of the Missabe Misses working for the DM&IR during World War II, died Friday, June 3, 2005 in Benedictine Health Center, surrounded by her family. She was 85.
She was born on Sept. 2, 1919 in Proctor to Edward and Hanora (Reidy) Scanlon. She was a lifelong Proctor and Duluth resident. Margaret was a 1938 graduate of Proctor High School and a graduate of Duluth Business University. She married George W. Pavlatos on Jan. 12, 1946 in St. Rose Catholic Church, Proctor. During the years of WW II, she worked as a clerk in the DM&IR store department in Proctor. Margaret was co-owner and operator, with her husband, George, of Warner Shoe Store in West Duluth, for 18 years, retiring in 1982. She was a longtime active member of St. James Catholic Church and its St. Margaret Guild and T.E.A.M. She loved her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. Margaret also loved her church and had great faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, one brother and a grandson, Nicholas Pavlatos.
Survivors include her husband, George; her children, Robert (Susan) of Cloquet, Mark (Marie), Mary (Doug) Michog and Patrice (Neil) Busch, all of Duluth and Daniel (Valerie) of Superior; 12 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Services were Tuesday in St. James Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Charles Flynn officiated. Burial in Oneota Cemetery.
Bonnie Kline
Bonnie Kline of Twig, lost her 3 1/2 year battle fighting cancer Friday, June 3, 2005 in St. Luke’s Hospital. She was 53.
She was born on Feb. 9, 1951 in Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of John Clavin Stoll and Jean Marie Pierce, and was later adopted by her stepfather, Paul E. Price of Springfield. Bonnie graduated from Springfield South High School in 1969 and was employed at Glawe Awning in Fairborn, Ohio before moving to Minnesota in 2002 to live with her father, John. She was an ordained non-denominational minister. Bonnie loved working with the children’s ministry and could always be found wherever the children were.
She is preceded in death by her father, Paul Price in 1998 and her step-mother, May Stoll in 2003 and step-sister Ragna Salo.
She is survived by her father, John Stoll; her mother Jean Price, her son and daughter-in-law Gary II and Samala Kline, grandsons Zechariah and Austin all of Springfield, Ohio, and grandson Gary Lee Kline, III of Lewistown, Ohio; sisters, Melanie (Terry) McKenzie of Springfield, Ohio, Diana Armstrong of St. Paul, and Donna (Ricky LaDuke) of Saginaw, brothers, James (Lorraine) Stoll of Chaska, and David (Maggie) Stoll of Newport News, Va.; step-brother Lauritz LeGukio of Duluth; an aunt Eva Pierce and an uncle, Phillip (Jan) Stoll all of Springfield plus several nieces and nephews.
At her request, her body is being donated to St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth for cancer research. After it is released back to her family, she will be cremated. Graveside services and burial will follow at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery in DeGraff, Ohio, with her best friend, Bev, officiating.
Beverly D. Hanson
Beverly D. Hanson, of Twig, died Sunday, June 5, 2005, in St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was 78.
Beverly was born in Duluth on October 14, 1926 to William and Lillian (Verelius) Nicholson. Beverly graduated from Duluth Central High School, was a member of “the Road Club” and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She retired in 1994 as a teacher’s aide from the Northeast Regional Correction Center. She was an avid reader and loved to knit. Beverly’s family was most important to her.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Glen, in 1993 and a great granddaughter, Kendall Jo Onraet in 2003.
Surviving are daughters, Jeanne (Del) Case, Julie (Jerry) Isaacson, Gwen (Alan) Nelson and Pamela “Sam” (Doug) Debaiso all of Duluth; a sister, Dorothy (Robert) Falk of Duluth; brothers, William (Rose Marie) Nicholson of Oakdale, Minn. and Richard (Corky) Nicholson of Burnsville, Minn; 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Services were yesterday in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Proctor. Burial in Sunrise Memorial Park.
Paul R. Hamerston
Paul R. Hamerston, who was born in Proctor, graduated from its high school and went on to become president of the Minnesota State Bar Association and was appointed by the Supreme Court of Minnesota to the State Board of Professional Responsibility, died on Friday, May 20, 2005 at the Lakeshore Lutheran Home. He was 95.
Hamerston, a resident of Stuart, Fla., was born on Aug. 23, 1909 He was a graduate of Proctor High School, the Duluth Junior College, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Law School. He practiced law in Duluth from 1933 until his retirement in 1979. He served as Court Commissioner of St. Louis County from 1938 to 1942 and as Assistant County Attorney from 1942-1945. He served as president of the Eleventh District Bar Association, and as Chairman of the Real Property Section and the Practice of Law Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He was president of the Family Service Society and chairman of the Duluth Council of Social Agencies. He had a 50 year certificate of membership in the Minnesota State Bar Association, was a Life Member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, and a member of the American Bar Association. He was a member of Northland Country Club, the Kitchi Gammi Club, the Exchange and Rotary Clubs, Trinity Masonic Lodge 282, and served as an Elder and Trustee of Lakeside Presbyterian Church. He was a volunteer in the Coast Guard in the Duluth Superior Harbor during World War II. He moved to Stuart, Fla., in 1979 and spent 23 summers at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Summer Housing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Augusta Hamerston of Proctor; his wife of 62 years, Constance Jensen Hamerston, in 1991.
He is survived by daughters, Mary Olin of Knife River, Minn., and Kathryn Schultz of Stuart, Fla.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Paul was a loving son, devoted husband, caring father, respected attorney, and a rare and precious grandfather.
Memorial Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, July 8, in Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
Richard “Dick” Stephen Young
Lee (Joan) Heine of Proctor is mourning the loss of his father, Richard “Dick” Stephen Young of Michigan and Duluth, who died Thurs., June 2, 2005, in the Benedictine Health Center. He was 89.
Dick was born in Detroit, Mich., on March 12, 1916. He graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in accounting. He served in the Army during World War II and received a Good Conduct Medal and American Theatre Ribbons, six overseas service bars and a service stripe. He also served in the Air Force during the Korean War and received the National Defense Service Medal. He was a welder for GM’s Detroit Diesel. Dick was a member of the Michigan VFW in Hale, Mich., and the United Auto Workers. He and his wife, Hazel, loved to garden, travel, fish, bowl, call bingo and spend time with their grandkids. For many years he and Hazel put flags on graves on Memorial Day. They both did Road Patrol in National City, Mich.
Dick is preceded in death by his father, CP Young and a sister, Doris.
He is also survived by his wife Hazel, whom he married in 1951, grandchildren Dawn Marie, Robin Leigh, Stephen and Richard Paul and great-grandchildren Macie Morgan, Madeline Elizabeth, AJ Knudsen and Grace Marie.
Services were held Monday. Burial was at Sunrise Memorial Park. Military Honors were accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.
