Lives Remembered

Christine D. (Tina) Ingram,

Long-time Grand Marais resident Dorothy (Jaenisch) Almlie died peacefully, April 5, 2010, at the Park Plaza Care Center in St. Louis Park, MN.

Dorothy was born Oct. 11, 1917 in Johnson, MN, a small town in Big Stone County. Her father, Benjamin Jaenisch, built his first feed mill there, where the family lived until about 1930, when they relocated to Fergus Falls, MN.

Dorothy worked in the office of the family business, Big Ben Feeds, while her brothers, Roger and Harold, worked in the mill and associated hatchery. Her last two years of high school, she worked at a local floral nursery, where she developed her life-long love of all things horticultural.

She went to teachers’ college at Moorhead, MN, and began teaching in 1937 in Lowry, MN. There she met her future husband, Albert Almlie, who taught fifth and sixth grades and was principal of the school. Dorothy recalled that she knew almost immediately that he was the man she wanted to marry, but she claimed it was not an easy conquest. “I think he was kind of enjoying the bachelor life,” she said. “You know, that was a very small town, and he was the most eligible bachelor in town.”

Margaret Ann O’Leary,

The pair married Oct. 5, 1941, at First English Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They made their first home together at Grand Portage, MN, where Albert served as an immigration officer at the Canadian border. Their first daughter, Judith (Johnson) was born in Duluth, shortly after their first anniversary. Her birth deferred Al’s first draft notice to serve in World War II, and the family spent their first Christmas together on the Reservation River. Shortly thereafter, Dorothy and Judy returned to live in Fergus Falls for a time, before joining Albert at various Army bases around the United States.

After the war, they returned to Grand Marais, where Albert returned to his work in Immigration. The couple had two more children, Mary Beth (Coonda) in 1950 and Kathryn in 1952. They raised their children there, and were active participants in all facets of the community, notably working with the development of Cook County Hospital, and with Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where Dorothy regularly provided homegrown flowers to decorate the sanctuary on Sundays and for special services.

They lived the “snowbird” lifestyle for a number of years, following Al’s retirement as Port Director at Grand Portage in the mid-70s, spending warm months at their home in Grand Marais and winters in Tucson, AZ. They retired from that lifestyle in about 1993 and stayed in their home until moving, in 1999, to Hillhaven care center in Grand Marais, where they lived for about two years before moving to live with their daughter Judy in Minneapolis in 2001.

They moved together into a memory-care unit at the Golden Care Center in St. Louis Park, MN, in May 2004. Albert died peacefully there on April 26, 2006.

Albert and Dorothy will be interred together at a family ceremony at Maple Hill Cemetery in Grand Marais. They were preceded in death by daughter Kathy. They are survived by their daughters Judy Johnson and Mary Beth Coonda, sonin law Dale Coonda, three grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

William “Bill” Bally, 80, Grand Marais, Minnesota, died April 11, 2010 in Grand Marais.

Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 26, 1929 to Albert and Mary (Landergott) Bally. As a child he moved with his family to Grand Marais where his father joined the family business, Bally’s Blacksmith Shop. He graduated from Grand Marais High School and attended UMD. After serving in the Korean Conflict, he returned to school at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis. He attended various workshops on welding as well. His life career was as a blacksmith and metal worker at Bally’s Blacksmith Shop.

Bill loved the area birds, chipmunks, and all living things in the woods and on the water. He flew a float plane, rode motorcycle, and volunteered as a steam locomotive fireman at the Depot in Duluth. Mostly though, he loved his work.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Sam and Nancy Bally; and uncle and aunt Bill and Jessie Bally.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Holte; cousins Joan Rintlemann of Florida and Jean Marie Modl of Grand Marais.

A memorial service will be determined at a later date this summer.

Christine D. (Tina) Ingram, 82, died April 11, 2010 at the North Shore Care Center in Grand Marais.

She was born Feb. 7, 1928 to Oscar and Minnie (Enghauser) Nelson at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. She was the wife of Donald O. Ingram, to whom she was married 61 years.

Tina attended Lutsen Elementary School and graduated from Grand Marais High School. She enjoyed gardening, golfing, fishing and skiing.

Tina was very involved in the community. She was a past Worthy Matron, Order of the Eastern Star; past president, Grand Marais Garden Club; active member of the Gunflint Hills Golf Club; member of the Grand Marais Lioness Club; and was active in her churches at Tofte, Gold Canyon, Ariz., and Grand Marais.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Edna and Olive; and great-grandson Cashton.

She is survived by her husband Donald; sister Helen; brother Mickey; children Alan (Christie) Ingram, Marty (Laurie) Ingram and Nancy (John) Gerbozy; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 300 W. Second St., Grand Marais. The family requests memorials in Tina’s memory be made to North Shore Care Center Activities.

Dennis Lancaster, 69, of Grand Marais, died Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais.

Dennis was born January 16, 1941 to Thomas and Marian (Brawn) Lancaster in Detroit, Michigan, where he grew up and attended school. He served in the Army from 1960 to 1964. Dennis worked as a lineman in Gaylord, Michigan for 10 years until his accident forced him to retire.

He lived in Denver, Colorado for 15 years, where he married Frances McLean. Together they moved to Grand Marais in 2005. Dennis was an avid H.A.M. radio operator, loved throwing darts, and was an emergency coordinator for Otsego, Michigan. He loved doing beading and leatherwork, watching Lake Superior, taking long rides in the woods, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Frances; son, Ernie (Devo) of Michigan; daughters, Heather (Jim) Finley of Michigan, and Crystal (Mike) Finley of Georgia; stepchildren, Twiana (Joe) Kishefsky of Michigan, and Larry R. of Michigan; half sister, Judy (Ken) of Toledo, Ohio; half-brother, Thomas Jr. of Florida; grandchildren, Liz, Jenny, Dakota, Dwight, Joseph, Donovan Jr., Aliza, Amber, R.J., Holly Rose, Kyle, Kalob, Ford, Shelby, and LeRoy, step-grandchildren, Seth, Allen, Megan, Adam, and Andrew, and greatgrandchildren, Zander and Donovan III.

Private services will be held. Arrangements by Cavallin Funeral Home.

Margaret Ann O’Leary, 48, Hermantown, passed away April 8, 2010.

She was born March 21, 1962 in Virginia, Minnesota to Lois and Tony Jackopich of Greaney. She lived in Greaney until 1971 when her mother married Larry Abelman and the family moved to Hovland. She graduated from Cook County High School.

Margie lived in Silver Bay and was employed by Cleveland Cliffs for nine years at a job she really loved in spite of the hard work involved. On July 1, 1999 she married her best friend Brian O’Leary, and later they moved to Wisconsin where Brian helped with the family business. Their love for Minnesota drew them back and they returned to jobs in the construction industry. Margie was hired by Ulland Bros Inc. of Carlton in the summer of 2009. She had worked for them previously and loved getting back to the company. She looked forward to the upcoming work season.

Brian and Margie had a real love for the outdoors. They especially looked forward to the November deer season and their time at the deer camp at Greaney. She also loved photography, traveling, hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling and downhill skiing.

To friends and family Margie was a truly fun-loving person, honest and compassionate, with a heart of gold. Every family member and friend had a special spot in her life. Of friends, she had many. She made a lasting impression on those who knew her and will be forever missed, but always remembered, by all who knew her.

Margie was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Abelman, and her father, Tony Jackopich.

Margie is survived by her husband, Brian O’Leary; two step-daughters, Megan O’Leary of Ashland and Nichole O’Leary of Finland, MN; sisters, Bonnie (David) Arndt of Utah, Connie (Joseph) Dren of Gilbert, Monica (Ruben) Zaback of Pueblo, Colorado; a brother, Marty (Andrea) Jackopich of Grand Marais; her beloved stepfather, Larry Abelman of Hovland; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday April 17, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland. Arrangements by Cavallin Funeral Home.