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OLAF T. BERGE
Olaf T. Berge, known to friends as "O.T." or "Berge" died in Bartlesville, Okla., on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, at the age of 92, after an extended illness.
He was one of the mining pioneers of Minnesota's taconite industry.
Born in Sleepy Eye, Minn., Berge was a graduate of Hutchinson High School. He earned a degree as engineer of mines-geology at the University of Minnesota, School of Mines, in 1932.
Berge joined Pickands Mather & Co. at its Hibbing district office in 1942, after exploring for gold and working for Winston Brothers in Montana and working seven years with the Minnesota Highway Department. He first worked as an engineer and then as chief engineer at the PM-managed Mahoning Mine near Hibbing. In 1952, he transferred as assistant district engineer to the recently formed Erie Mining Co., where he developed mining plans and designed the initial mining areas for the pioneering taconite-mining venture near Hoyt Lakes. He was named chief engineer in 1957 and assistant to management at Erie in 1968, a position he held until retiring in 1973, after 31 years with PM and Erie.
During his professional life and into retirement, Berge was a vital and valued member of many civic, professional, charitable and church organizations in Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes, Lake Eshquagama, Minn., Green Valley, Ariz., and Bartlesville, Okla.
His wife of 53 years, Bernice, preceded Berge in death in 1993.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Paul (Calista) of Lyons, Colo., Bruce (Darlene) of Bartlesville and Ralph (Anne) of Broadview Heights, Ohio; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
MEMORIAL SERVICE:11 a.m. Thursday in Werness Brothers Chapel, 3500 W. 50th St., Minneapolis, MN, (612) 927-8641. Interment in Lakewood cemetery, Minneapolis.
KENNETH W. CHRISTIAN
Kenneth W. Christian, 85, of Winton, Minn., died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, in Ely-Bloomenson Nursing Home.
He was born Jan. 15, 1916, in Northwood, N.D., to Roy and Sadie (Greene) Christian. At the age of 18, Ken joined the CC Camps near Ely. In 1937, he married
Helvi Hokkanen in Ely. He attended Border Patrol Training School in El Paso, Texas, and over the years worked in Grand Forks and Minot, N.D., and Virginia, Minn. Ken entered the Navy in 1945 and served some time in Washington, D.C. He returned to border patrol duty in Virginia after the service, later being transferred to Ely where he was customs and immigration officer until his retirement. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Ken was also a member of the Masonic lodge.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mildred Sjaasted; and brothers Phalen and Donald Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Helvi; a daughter, Lana (Gary) Tuthill of Ely; sons Keith (Yvonne) Christian of Seattle and Stanford (Kathy) Christian of Mount Prospect, Ill.; grandchildren Neil Tuthill, Susan Tarvin, Lars Christian, Nils Christian, and Michael, Beth, Kevin and Brian Christian; and great-grandchildren Hope and Conner Tuthill, Christian Tarvin and Paulina Christian.
MEMORIAL SERVICE:noon Wednesday in First Lutheran Church, Ely, the Rev. John Bonk officiating. Spring inurnment in Ely cemetery. Arrangements by Kerntz Funeral Home, Ely.
FRANK V. STRUKEL
Frank V. Strukel, 93, of Ely died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, in Ely Bloomenson Nursing Home.
He was born Oct. 1, 1908, in Ely to John and Frances (Grebenc) Strukel. He attended the Ely schools and was a graduate of Ely High School. He married
Helen Kovall in 1935. He worked in the underground mine and was a bookkeeper for Skala's garage in Ely. He was a clerk for County Commissioner Joseph Veranth and in 1939 he opened Frank's Liquor Store with his wife, Helen, which they operated for 40-some years. He also was an independent insurance agent and was an income tax preparer well into his 80s. During World War II, he worked for the Oliver Mining Co.
Frank was very active in the community during his prime years, having been a member of the Ely Chamber of Commerce and its former president, an organizer and volunteer for every Roaring Stoney celebration, a top seller for War Bonds in Ely during World War II, a former member and chairman of the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital board of directors and instrumental in securing funding for the first nursing home addition to the hospital, and a former member and chairman of the Ely Zoning and Planning Commission.
Frank was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, where he was an altar boy until the age of 18 and an usher until a few years ago, Croation Fraternal Union Lodge 355 of Ely, a life member of the Ely Moose Lodge and the Ely Area Senior Citizens, where he so enjoyed his daily meals up to the time he entered the nursing home. He enjoyed socializing and was an avid storyteller, especially about his pheasant hunting and fishing trips. He was especially proud of his family and their accomplishments.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, in 1990; an infant son; his parents; a grandson, Joey Ivancich; a great-granddaughter, Nicole Ivancich; a son-in-law, Paul J. Ivancich; three brothers; and eight sisters.
He is survived by his daughter, Virginia Ivancich; grandson Paul F. Ivancich and fiancee Casey Velcheff and grandson Frank P. Ivancich; great-grandchildren Kelsey, Mychal and Steven Ivancich, all of Ely; and numerous nieces and nephews.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:2 p.m. Wednesday, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Ely, the Rev. James Scheurer officiating. Burial in Ely cemetery. Kerntz Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
LEONA MAY FALL
Leona May Fall, 74, of Cloquet died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, in Cloquet Community Memorial Nursing Home.
She was born Nov. 29, 1927, in Jamestown, N.D., to Albert and Gladys (Nelson) Dietz. She married
David D. Fall on April 19, 1948, in Superior.
Leona worked for Diamond Match Company in Cloquet and Jeno's in Duluth. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Salvation Army in Cloquet and enjoyed rummaging, bingo and crafts.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Leona is survived by a daughter, Sandra (Thomas) Loney of Esko; sons Richard (Pam) Fall, Michael Fall and Darrell Fall, all of Cloquet, Dennis (Laurie) Fall of Brookston and Keith (Renee) Fall of Esko; a stepdaughter, Carol Illikainen of South Dakota; a stepson, William Illikainen of Willow River; a brother, Frank "Bud" Dietz of Cloquet; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: noon until the 1 p.m. service Thursday in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. Private family interment will be in Maple Grove cemetery.
RICHARD L. "DICK" CHRISTENSEN
Richard L. "Dick" Christensen, 73, of Princeton, Minn., passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Karen (Martin); a daughter, Renee Christensen; a son, Richard (July); three grandchildren; many brothers and sisters; and a large extended family.
MEMORIAL SERVICE:11 a.m. Wednesday in Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids. Burial at a later date in Hill Lake cemetery, Hill Lake Township.
HERBERT E. SCHILDT
Herbert E. Schildt, 88, died Sunday, Dec. 2, 2001, in his Grand Rapids home.
Herbert was born Nov. 25, 1913, in Aurora, Ill., and worked for 45 years in the grocery business in Aurora. He retired in Mission, Texas, in 1979, and moved to Grand Rapids in December 2000.
He was preceded in death by five sisters; and three brothers.
Herbert is survived by his wife, Doris; sons Dave (Sandy) Schildt of Cohasset and Herb (Sherry) Schildt of Mahomet, Ill.; five grandchildren; a sister, Mildred Kaiser of Aurora; and numerous nieces and nephews.
MEMORIAL SERVICE:11 a.m. today in Libbey Funeral Home Chapel. Arrangements by Libbey Funeral Home, (218) 326-4000.
MARY JANE LARSEN
Mary Jane Larsen of Boundary Street, Ely, died at home in her sleep Sunday morning, Dec. 2, 2001.
She was born to Hazel and William Baldauf in Wisconsin Rapids on June 18, 1917. She graduated from high school and business college in Minneapolis and was a bookkeeper before her marriage to Leslie A. Larsen on Sept. 7, 1939. In 1946, the partnership of Larsen and Strachan (twin sister, "Bobs" and her husband, Charles Strachan) bought Deer Trail Lodge on what is now Ojibwa Lake. Over the next 43 years, they built the small primitive resort into an award-winning enterprise.
Mary Jane was very supportive of her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Ely. She was extremely active over the years in church officer, volunteer and teacher positions, as well as the Presbyterian Women and Circle groups. She was a longtime member and officer of Eastern Star, an enthusiastic member of the music and drama club, sewed for the hospital auxiliary, drove for FISH, was a member of the elections board, and volunteered at the library and anywhere else she saw a need.
She was also a loving wife to her husband of 62 years, Les Larsen, and mother to son Dexter A. Larsen (Kristin) of Duluth and daughter Lesley "Lee" Myers Fuller (John) of St. John, Virgin Islands.
She is also survived by her sister, Margaret "Bobs" Strachan of Ely; granddaughters Laura Larsen Schmidt (Paul) of Fargo, N.D., and Stephanie Myers Bowers (Michael) of Alexandria, Va., grandsons Neil Larsen of Minneapolis and Andrew Myers (Ginger) of Bluemont, Va.; great-grandchildren Christopher, John and Katherine Fuller of Chesapeake, Va., Nolan and Nathaniel Schmidt, Andrew Myers and Samuel Bowers; several nieces and nephews; and many, many friends throughout the country.
This active and vital lady will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Arrangements for a memorial service and celebration of her life are pending.
ARVO NAKARI
Arvo Nakari, 86, of Virginia died Monday, Dec. 3, 2001, in Virginia Medical Center, as a result of a traffic accident.
Visitation: 9 until the 10 a.m. service Wednesday in Range Funeral Home, Virginia. Burial in Cook cemetery.
PHILIP R. CARLSON SR.
Philip R. Carlson Sr., 84, of Virginia died Monday, Dec. 3, 2001, in Virginia Convalescent Center.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Kenneth, in 1945; his first wife, Ann (Elias) Carlson, on Dec. 2, 1975; his second wife, Harriet (Hahne) Carlson, on June 19, 1988; and a brother, Alf Carlson.
Survivors include sons Philip R. (Sally) Carlson Jr., and Gary (Jeannine) Carlson, both of Virginia; daughters Kaye (Dennis) Jorgensen of Virginia and Carol Jean Carlson of Cook; stepchildren Sally (Sam) Slade of Tucson, James (Kathy) Hahne of White Bear Lake, Minn., Mike (Melissa) Hahne of Virginia; Mary (Tom) Terch of Castle Rock, Colo., and Anne (Steve) Badanjak of Virginia; a sister, Eleanor Maychek of Eveleth; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Noon until the 1 p.m. service Thursday in Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church, Virginia. Burial with military honors accorded by the Virginia Servicemen's Color Guard in the Veterans Section of Greenwood cemetery, Virginia. Memorials are preferred to the donor's choice. Arrangements by Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.
