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Grace Staley Melin
Grace Staley Melin, resident for a while at Railview Apartments and who spent many of her summers along with her husband at Caribou Lake, died Fri., Mar. 24, 2000 in St. Cloud. She was 84.
She was born in Duluth and married Carl Melin. Grace grew up in West Duluth and resided in Hermantown and later in Railview Senior Apartments.
She owned The Grace Staley Dance Studio and The Rhythm Dance Studio, which she owned with her daughter Marcia. She was an active member, elder, circle member and small group leader at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Duluth.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Marcia and James Cuzzo of Santa Paula, Calif., her son and daughter-in-law Bruce and Patricia Melin of St. Cloud, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and her sister Lelha Abramson of Lake Haven Nursing Home, Duluth.
Ruth Sutton
Ruth Sutton, Immanuel Lutheran Church’s organist, died Thurs., Mar. 23, 2000 in a Duluth hospital. She was 71.
She was born in the Virginia area. She grew up in Lakeside and graduated from Duluth Central High School. Ruth married Glenn Sutton in 1958. After their marriage, they lived in the Arnold Road area until moving to Cliff Avenue in 1969. Ruth had worked for Linder Piano and Organ. She had been an organist for over 40 years, playing in churches all around the area. She also taught piano and organ. Ruth had also worked for St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Department for 23 years, retiring Jan. 31, 2000.
Ruth is survived by her husband Glenn and special friends Elizabeth and Dick Rich of Farmington, Minn., Dan and Diane Hallberg of Lakeview and Wallace and Marianne Goulet of Duluth.
The Rev. Mark Osthus officiated. Interment was in Park Hill Cemetery. Memorials in Ruth’s name may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church Camp Fund.
Ray Donald Miller
Randy Miller of Saginaw and Theresa Mellinger of Proctor are saddened by the death of their brother, Ray Donald Miller. He died Sat., Mar. 25, 2000, of an apparent heart attack. He was 47.
He was born in Duluth. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. He was a mechanic for Yellow Cab and a member of the United Sportsman Club in Duluth. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and snowmobiling.
He is also survived by a daughter, his father, five other brothers and sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
Barbara Jean (Sanderson) Stovern
Wendy Maciejeski of Saginaw is mourning the death of her mother Barbara Jean (Sanderson) Stovern. She died Sat., Mar. 25, 2000, in her Duluth home. She was 60.
She was born in Tomahawk, Wis. She moved to Duluth in 1954. She worked at Edgewater Motel in housekeeping, where she was the only one to receive a score of 976 for an inspection.
She is also survived by her husband of 43 years George, another daughter, five grandchildren, four step grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren and a sister.
Burial was in the Polish Catholic Cemetery.
Elwood M. “Woody” Ellefson
Elwood M. “Woody” Ellefson, who was a native of Proctor and student taught in Proctor during the 1940’s for Mr. Moody, died Sat., Mar. 4, 2000 in San Bernardino, Calif. He was 74.
Mr. Ellefson had lived in Highland 40 years.
He was a teacher for the San Bernardino City Unified School District for 42 years. He served in the Navy four years and was awarded the Victory Medal. He was a member of the Sons of Norway and Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Bernardino.
Survivors include five sons, Greg Peterson and Tim of Highland, Jim, Dolph and Sean of Portland; three daughters Joann Gonzales of Riverside, Laurie Allen of Huntington Beach and Kara May of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; three brothers, Omar of Duluth, Minn., Eugene of Papillion, Neb. and Rodney of Lacrosse, Wis.; 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Interment was in Riverside National Cemetery Stage 4.
Barbara Grace Miller
Services were held earlier this week for Barbara Grace Miller of North 79th Avenue West. She died Mon., Apr. 3, 2000 at the age of 75.
She was born in Rice Lake, Wis. and was a resident of Superior for most of her life. She was a licensed practical nurse and certified nursing assistant for the former St. Joseph’s Hospital, Superior Memorial Hospital, Parkland Health Care Facility and Middle River Health Care Facility.
She was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Duluth and Superior Baptist Chapel.
She is survived by her husband Donald Roy Miller, Sr., a son William John Thompson of St. Paul, daughters Susan Kay Brown of Tyler, Minn. and Kathleen Marie Russell of Eau Claire, Wis., three grandchildren, stepchildren Ovenia Rose (Tommy) Jones, Roy (Kathy) Miller, Linda (Tony) Lonetto, all of Duluth, Randy (Ardell) Miller of Saginaw, Diane (Richard) Nelson of Eveleth, Theresa Mellinger of Proctor and Donald (Tammy) Miller, Jr. of Mille Lacs Lake, Minn., a stepdaughter-in-law Bonnie Hayes Miller of Duluth, a special friend Dorothy Gonschorek and numerous step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.
Patricia Jean Potswald
Michael Graves of Proctor is saddened by the death of his sister, Patricia Jean Potswald. She died Tues., Apr. 4, 2000 in a Duluth hospital. She was 53.
She was born in Duluth and was a graduate of Cathedral High School. She married Robert Potswald in October of 1965. Patty worked for St. Mary’s Homecare for nine years, retiring in Jan. due to her health.
She is also survived by her husband Robert, a daughter, two sons, her father, five other brothers and sisters and six grandchildren.
Burial was in Park Hill Cemetery.
Douglas M. Fairbanks
Douglas M. Fairbanks of Proctor died Mon., Apr. 10, 2000 in Nopeming Nursing Home. He was 69.
He was born in Chicago, Ill. He moved to the Duluth area in 1945 where he worked on the family farm. He married Ethel Johnson in 1950 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Proctor.
Douglas was employed with the DM&IR Railway, Haugland Oil Company and Peterson Brothers Trucking before retiring in 1992. He was a member of Teamsters Local 346 and Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister June Stillwell and an infant son Daniel Steven.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years Ethel, sons Douglas (Wendy) of Hastings, Minn. and David (Kris) of Colorado Springs, Colo., daughters Linda (Dan) Rohweder and Nancy (Rick) Lilliberg both of Proctor, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, brothers Stuart (Ellen) of Chicago, Merle (Linda) and John (Sharon) both of Duluth area, sisters Audrey Boehn of Largo, Fla., Betty (Herb) Lundberg of Kingman, Ariz. and Dorothy (Bud) Nelson of Silver Bay and his pet dog Maggie.
Visitation will be from noon until the 1 p.m. services today (Thurs.) in Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Sunrise Memorial Park. Arrangements were made by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Joan Marie Brigan, Services were held last week for Joan Marie Brigan. She died Tues., Apr. 4, 2000 in a Duluth hospital. She was 56.
She was born in Duluth. She was a 1962 graduate of Alborn High School. Joan married John Brigan in 1962. She was previously employed at Pine Knot Newspaper in Cloquet and was currently employed at the main post office in Duluth in the CFS Department.
Joan is survived by her husband John “Buck” Brigan, Sr. of Saginaw, a daughter Rhonda (Mike) Clark of Carlton, sons John, Jr. of Wrenshall, Tim (Bonnie) and William “Bill”, both of Saginaw, her mother Katherine Dalton of Cloquet, a brother James (Kay) Dalton of Barnum, a sister Kathy (Vern) Heikes of Hermantown and grandchildren Roger and Brittany Brigan, Alexandra, Ashley, Autumn, Alyssa and Andrea Clark.
Interment was in New Calvary Cemetery, Cloquet.
Susan Marie McGovern
Susan Marie McGovern, who grew up near Pike Lake and graduated from Proctor High School in 1970, died Sat., Apr. 15, 2000. She was 48.
The Makinen resident was born in St. Luke’s Hospital. She married David McGovern in 1972. Susan had been a housekeeper at the Skyline Motel, later a nursing assistant at May Marrow and had also worked for the United States Postal Service.
Susan loved to dance. She loved children, especially her granddaughters. Susan’s heart went out to children and everyone she knew. She will be sadly missed.
Susan is survived by her husband David, her parents Kenneth and Maxine Eckstrom of Duluth, sons David (Kathy) and Kenneth of Duluth, a daughter Tina (Scott) Miller of Culver, brothers Donald (Kathy) of Duluth, Dale (Dawn) of Cloquet, David (Carol) of Saginaw, Dennis (Renee) of Duluth and Dean (Karen) of Hutchinson, Minn, sisters Sandra (Peter) Blom of Culver and Sherri (Ronald) Thompson of Las Vegas, granddaughters Molly and Sophie McGovern and Danielle and Chloe Miller.
Frances M. Findley
Services were held earlier in the week for former Proctor resident Frances M. Findley. She died Fri., Apr. 14, 2000 in Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 83.
She was born in Guckeen, Minn. In 1957, Frances moved to the Duluth area where she was employed as an elementary school teacher with the Duluth School District, retiring in 1977.
Survivors include sons Dean (Karen) Findley of Sunland Park, N.M., Duane Findley of Proctor, Jim (Cindy) Findley of St. Michael, Minn. and Barry (Chris) Findley of Duluth, 11 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Oneota Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Elinor Spicer Bell
Services were held last week for former Grand Lake resident Elinor Spicer Bell. She died Sat., Apr. 8, 2000 in her Duluth home. She was 78.
She was born in Duluth, graduated from Stanbrook Hall and attended the College of St. Scholastica and Colorado College. She married her husband Thomas G. Bell, Jr., in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1945.
Elinor served on the board of Northwood’s Children’s Home, Junior League of Duluth and was an honorary lifetime member of Ridgeview Country Club. She was also a member of Northland Country Club and the Kitchie Gammi Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dr. Frank W. and Madeline Spicer, brothers Dr. Frank W. Spicer, Jr. and Richard G. Spicer and her husband Thomas G. Bell, Jr.
She is survived by her six children Thomas G. (Micki) Bell, III, Frank S. (Rosalie) Bell, Charles M. Bell and Barbara B. (William) Gundersen, all of Duluth, Catherine “Kate” (Mark) Johnson of Sleepy Hollow, Ill. and Stephen P. Bell of Denver, her sister Barbara (Clark) MacGregor of Washington, D.C., a sister-in-law Jean Spicer of Green Valley, Ariz., grandchildren Tom, John (Molly), Kate, Crissy, Peter, Nicole, Charles II and Natalie Bell; Ben, Cally and Sam Johnson; and Jenni and Parker Gundersen; great-grandchildren Ian and Dexter and five nieces and one nephew.
Interment was in Oneota Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors.
