March 2024

Vilas was welcomed into the arms of the Lord and reunited with his parents and his Hopey on Friday, March 8, 2024 at St Bernard's Medical Center. Born to the late Vilas Hendrick Elder, Sr. and Marie Haywood Elder on October 17, 1945, Vilas grew up in Piggott,Arkansas. He attended Arkansas State University where he was a proud member and alumni of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor's Degree in Commercial Art. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Hope Spragins. He is survived by his wife Ginger Paulette Elder, of the home, sister Faith Hogan, daughters Tahnya Price, Melanie (Mike) Stitt, and Amanda (Justin) Waln, stepchildren Stacie Smith, Bart (Amy) White, and Greg (Amy) White, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Vilas was an exceptional Christian, he never met a stranger, and he would do anything to help his neighbors. He was a long-standing member of Trinity Church where he served as head usher for many years. Most recently, Vilas was in service to the Lord at The Rock of NEA. He loved everyone he met, and if you had any ties to Piggott, the conversation was a lesson in genealogy and all things Piggott, Arkansas. He served his community through the Exchange Club of Jonesboro, in every possible leadership role over his 50-year tenure. Funeral services will be Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. with visitation from 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. in Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro's Chapel with Bill Barber officiating. Pall bearers will be Aaron Price, Blake Price, Caleb Price, Parker Waln, Mason Waln, and Justin Waln. Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of The Exchange Club of Jonesboro. He will be laid to rest in Piggott Memorial Gardens on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Exchange Club of Jonesboro or The Rock of NEA.

Bev Denyes passed away peacefully Sunday, March 3rd at the Cook County Care Center. Bev was born September 25th, 1931, in Duluth, MN.

James “JJ” Johnson passed on March 1, 2024 in Minneapolis at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer. JJ grew up in Annandale, MN.

Carolyn Ruth Byers (Carol), 77, passed away peacefully March 9, 2024, at Solvay Hospice House, Duluth, MN. By the time she was five, Carol's world had changed twice. First, when she and her sister Sue were adopted as babies by Margaret and Glen Estle. And second, at age five, when the family first went up the Gunflint Trail. That trip to the old Diamond Willow Lodge would lead to many summers and finally a year-round residency at Gunflint Lake. Born on July 31, 1946, in Hastings, Nebraska, Carol grew up in suburban Chicago. She graduated from New Trier High School in Wilmette, IL, and attended William Penn University. While still a high school senior, she wanted to work at the local Baskin-Robbins. But girls were not hired there at the time. Instead, she met the love of her life, Arden Byers, who was working there between college and the military. He soon left for military training in Texas, and they began a long-distance, letter-writing romance, as was common at the time. They married on October 1, 1966, while stationed at Wright Patterson AFB and joyfully celebrated every anniversary that followed. Their first son, Kirk, was born in 1967 in Ohio, son Eric was born in 1970 in California. Arden continued his military career for 21 years. But every summer, Carol came back to Gunflint Lake where her parents spent summers in the U.S. Forest Service Summer Homes. In 1971, Arden and Carol leased a home of their own in the Summer Homes on Gunflint Lake. Arden would drive the family up and fly back to California in the early summer and come back for them in the fall. After leasing for many years while their sons grew up, they bought the old Aiden and Helen Hoover winter cabin from the Gilmore family in 1993. As an adoptee, at age 50 Carol did some research into her roots. She discovered she had two brothers, Frank Nichols, and Dallas Nichols. Carol and her sister Sue enjoyed two reunions in Alaska with their brothers and families. After Arden retired from the Air Force, su

 James “JJ” Johnson passed on March 1, 2024, in Minneapolis at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer. JJ grew up in Annandale, MN. He taught Elementary…