Linda (Blaine) Ottis, 70 years old, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, peacefully at her home in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Linda was born October 4, 1953, in Moorhead, Iowa, at the Blaine family residence in the beautiful Loess Hills of Iowa, the daughter of James and Rosemary (Moorhead) Blaine.
Ellen M. “Elly” Olson, 84, of Grand Portage died on Monday, April 8, 2024, at St.
Vera L. Flavell, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, 87, passed away on April 9, 2024, in Ankeny, IA, where she had lived for the last three years. Vera was born on August 21, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to Fayville and Flora (O'Connor) Wagg. While roller skating with her friends in 1953, she met Harold Flavell and their wonderful life together began. They were married in February of 1955 and shortly thereafter started their family. In 1961 they moved to Grand Marais, MN, and bought a small resort. At the urging of a neighbor, Vera took a job as a nurse's aid at the local hospital and later earned her RN license. She worked for 25 years at the North Shore Hospital as a nurse and EMT, and also taught many CPR and EMT classes. She had many fond memories of working with Carol Berglund and many other nurses. Vera and Harold moved to sunny and warm Cottonwood, AZ, in 1989. Vera worked at the local hospital in the critical care unit for 12 years, retiring in 2001. Throughout her life, Vera was very talented and creative and loved to sew, crochet, and do crafts of all kinds, making many treasured creations for her children and grandchildren. Vera enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society. Vera and Harold loved to travel the country with their 5th wheel, and also enjoyed playing cards with their group of great friends. Vera was proceeded in death by her son, Tim. She is survived by her husband Harold; sons Harold Guy (Nancy), Jeff (Shelley), Tom, daughter Julie (Bob) Seaman; grandchildren Chris, Amy, Carter, Thomas, James, Drew; and great-grandson, Daxton.
Linda Jo Morris, 69 of Schroeder passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at the North Shore Hospital, Grand Marais, MN. She is survived by her daughters, Michelle (Frank) Zaiger and Tammi (Averron) Matter, Grandchildren: Amanda Matter, Jeffrey Zaiger, Jeremy (Abi) Zaiger, Dylan Matter & Shane (Alyssa) Matter, Baby Wesley (due in April). Great Grandchildren Riley, MyKayla, Emmy and Baby Wesley (March 2024). Brothers Bill (Kate) Dalin, Tim (Laura) Dalin and nieces Bonnie and Katie. She was preceded in death by her husband and best friend of 38 years, Wesley Morris in 2017, her Parents: Bonnie & Earl Arnold & Bill and Lois Dalin, grandparents and aunts and uncles. Linda was born in St. Croix, Wisconsin on May 1, 1954, to Bill and Bonnie (Lent) Dalin. She grew up and graduated from Forest Lake, MN in 1972. She married Wesley Morris on August 25, 1979, in Lutsen, MN and they made their home in Schroeder and for a few years in Wyoming, MN before coming back to Schroeder and the North Shore where they happily lived until Wes' death in 2017. Linda spent her last few years with her brother Bill and his wife, Kate, in Grand Marais along with her beloved Pups Mo and Gracie. She will be forever loved and missed but we know she is laughing and dancing up a storm in the arms of her beloved 'Wessie' once again. There will be a memorial service in the Spring and the memorials should be directed to the Arrowhead Animal Shelter in Grand Marais.
Barbara Jo Quade, age 68, of Eau Claire, WI passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024 surrounded by family. She was born on January 4, 1956 in Ladysmith, WI to Donald and Shirley Quade. She graduated from Bruce High School, then attended the University of Minnesota as she began her finance career in Minneapolis, MN. Serving as a vice-president of RBC Dain Rauscher for many years, she earned numerous awards for her work ethic and accomplishments. After 30+ years she moved from Minneapolis to Tofte, MN. She was passionate about community and volunteer work. In 2017, she was named Tofte Citizen of the Year, in recognition of her exemplary competence and dedication as the Town Clerk, Park Board Member and Cemetery Board Member. Barbie Jo loved God, family, music, and travel. Her kindness and joy were evident to all who met her. Her son, Tyson, was the love of her life. 1970's Rock music concerts were one of her favorite pastimes, as well as extensive travel to experience new cultures and destinations. Survivors include her son Tyson of Minneapolis, siblings Kitty (Wayne) Erickson of Barron, Marcia (Mike) Sampson of Exeland, Mike (Donna) Quade of Bruce, Jackie (Steve) Dunker of Star Prairie, Chrissy (Steve) Longacre of Barron, and Steve (Nichole) Quade of Eau Claire. Barbie Jo is also survived by eighteen nieces and nephews. Her parents, Donald and Shirley Quade, preceded her in death. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. prior to the Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bruce with interment to follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Bruce. The family wishes to express a heartfelt thank you to Azura Memory Care, Mayo Hospice, and family and friends, for the care, love and support extended to Barbie Jo in her final years. Nash-Jackan Funeral Home of Bruce is assisting the family.
Clyde Hawthorne Wilkes died peacefully on March 15, 2024 surrounded by family. He was born on 4/1/1934, in Columbia, South Carolina to Clyde H. Wilkes, Sr. and Bertha (Hewlett) Wilkes. Clyde served as an Army Captain following graduation from Emory University in 1958 and earned his Ph.D. and M.D. from the University of Minnesota. He was married to Elizabeth (Geiger) Wilkes in 1957. They were married for 66 years and raised their family in Wayzata, Minnesota. Clyde had an independent surgery practice, was a founding member of the American Society of Temporomandibular Joint Surgeons (ASTMJS), and was an innovator in his field. Clyde loved to learn. He was a sailor, pilot, photographer, videographer, website developer, entrepreneur, and small business owner. He and Libby were proprietors of Northwind Sailing in Grand Marias, Minnesota, and Key West Florida. In Amelia Island, Florida, they operated Wilkes Helicopter and Elizabeth Wilkes Photography. Clyde is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Geiger) Wilkes, his four children and their spouses; George and Barb LaVigne, Katherine and Craig Kvale, Margaret (Wilkes) and Brad Kieley, and Marianne (Wilkes) and Jay Marshall, his nephew's family Rob, Meghan, and Gavin Galloway, and 9 grandchildren Marybeth and Martha, Madeline, Peter, and Sarah, Katherine and Will, and Elizabeth and Evelyn. The family recognizes with gratitude the care that Clyde received during his time at Haven Homes in Maple Plain, Minnesota. Thank you to the Haven Homes and Park Nicollet Hospice staff for their loving care of our husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Clyde H. Wilkes Library Endowment, with the Methodist Hospital medical library. You may make a donation online, www.Parknicollet.com/give , or by check, mailed to 6500 Excelsior Blvd St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Please include in the comment or memo, 'Dr. Clyde H. Wilkes Library Endowment.' The family will gather for a private service of reme
Yvonne A. Smith, 91, Grand Marais, died Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at North Shore Health.
Jo Ann Tupper, 89. Grand Marais, MN, passed on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in her home surrounded by 3 of her 4 children. Jo was born in Grantsburg, WI on April 10, 1934 to Ruth and Donald Bannister. She spent most of her childhood in Robbinsdale, MN in the home her father built. Her summers were spent at her grandparents’ farm in La Crosse, WI where she holds many cherished memories including roller skating down a long, winding road across a bridge. She learned to ski at Moon Valley Ski Resort near Shakopee, MN and for a short time modeled ski attire. It was when skiing in California that she met her first husband, George Field, the father of her four children. They were married at the First Congregational Church in Robbinsdale on October 12, 1955 with many friends and family in attendance.
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.