Orel Duane Benson,
Orel Duane Benson,
90, of Harmony, MN died April 27, 2010 at the Harmony Health Care Center.
Orel was born January 12, 1920 in rural Harmony to Judson and Lillian (Bartelmey) Benson.
He married Irene Rachel Springmire October 9, 1937 in Decorah, Iowa.
Orel and Irene farmed near Canton and Harmony until 1956. At that time they moved to Tofte, MN. Orel worked with heavy equipment and as a safety inspector for Erie Mining Company at Taconite Harbor for 25 years.
Following retirement, Orel and Irene spent many winters in Alamo, TX and built a cabin near their home in Tofte. After moving back to Harmony in 1987 they spent many summers at the cabin.
Orel was an active member of the State Line and Harmony United Methodist churches and Zoar Lutheran church in Tofte. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Grand Marais for over 50 years.
Orel enjoyed hunting and fishing of all kinds. He had a reputation for getting the first deer of the season on the North Shore for many years. Pictures of Orel with bear, deer, moose and fish were his pride and joy. He also was an enthusiastic Minnesota Twins fan, highlighted by attending the 1991 World Series game 7.
Bryan Andrew Fisher,
He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an avid supporter of their accomplishments.
He is survived by two children, Garren O (Patricia) Benson of Ames, IA and Lynne M (Ronald Carlson) Benson of Hastings, MN; grandchildren DeeAnn (Cam) Reese of Hortonville, WI, and Kent (Deana) Benson of Marion, IA; great-grandchildren Drew and Makenna Benson of Marion, IA; and sister Karol Sersland of Decorah, IA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and six sisters, Helen, Vera, Marion, Eunice, Arlene and Nelda and five brothers, Kenneth, Lyle, Manford, Merlin and Keith.
Funeral services were at the United Methodist Church in Harmony at 11:00 Monday, May 3 with visitation Sunday, May 2 at the Lindstrom Funeral home in Harmony from 3:00 – 5:00.
Burial will be at the State Line Cemetery in rural Harmony.
Memorials may be directed to the Harmony State Line United Methodist Church, State Line Cemetery in rural Harmony or Harmony Health Care.
Arline Marie Blomberg,
90, of Grand Marais, passed away, Sunday April 25, 2010 at the North Shore Care Center in Grand Marais, with her family at her side.
She was born December 12, 1919 to Jens and Thora Jepsen in Washington Island, Wisconsin. Arline grew up there and in 1937 she came to Grand Marais to visit her brother Marvin and his wife Gudren. She met Gudren’s brother Art and ended up married and making her home in Grand Marais. Theyhad four children, Violet, Marilyn, David, and Gary. Arline and Art lived at Good Harbor Hill until 1959, when they moved into town in Grand Marais. Arline worked waitressing at Harbor Inn, Mable’s, and the Blue Water Café. She loved baking cookies and visiting with friends, and babysitting her grandchildren.
Arline is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Art; brothers, Marvin and Mickey; sister, Audrey; son-inlaw, Tom; grandson, Roger Whiteside; daughter, Violet; special friend, Bernard Larsen; and son-in-law, Roger Larsen.
She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Larsen; sons, David and Gary Blomberg; granddaughters, Audrey Fenstad, Desi Whiteside, Melissa Carlson, and Kali and Roby Blomberg; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Whiteside, Chris (Danielle) Fenstad, Brett Pelto, Derek, Jessica, Brooke, and Rusty; great- great-grandchildren, Asha and Lexie Fenstad; and special friend to Arline, Kim Blomberg.
Memorial Service was held 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Arrangements by Cavallin Funeral Home.
Eleanor Hovland Byrne,
93, of Columbia Heights, Minn., passed away peacefully in her sleep April 20, 2010.
She was a retired school teacher, Minneapolis School District (Vocational and Educational High School).
She was preceded in death by sisters Lillian Hovland, Margaret Archer and Lucille Ziegelmeyer.
She is survived by daughter Glennis (Richard) Svendsen; nephew Peter Archer; grandchildren Elizabeth, Emily, Mary and Zachary; and greatgrandchildren Anastasia, Theodore, Nathanael and Madeleine.
Interment and services were in Hillside Chapel, Minneapolis.
Bryan Andrew Fisher,
46, Inver Grove Heights, formerly of Duluth, died unexpectedly April 29, 2010 at his home.
He was born in Grand Rapids, MN, on June 16, 1963, to Harry and Nancy Fisher. When Bryan was two years old, the family moved to Grand Marais and later moved to Duluth in 1972.
Bryan was a 1981 graduate of Duluth East High School and later received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from UMD.
After graduation, he worked for the Natural Resource Research at UMD and then left to work at Harmony Enterprises, serving as chief engineer. In 1991, Bryan left Harmony Enterprises and cofounded and served as CEO and owner of Excel Mfg. Co. in St. Charles, MN, a manufacturer of recycling equipment.
He was preceded in death by his mother. Bryan is survived by his father, Harry (Pat), Duluth; sister Heidi (Bill) Mlynarczyk, Duluth; son Andrew Archer and nephew Bryce Mlynarczyk.
Gathering of friends and memorial service were held May 6 at Williams- Lobermeier Funeral Home. Memorials preferred.
Wesley S. “Bud” Smith,
83, of Grand Marais, died Monday, April 26, 2010 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
He was born November 20, 1926 to Lester and Mildred (Linnell) Smith in Mineral Center, where he grew up and attended school. Bud moved to San Diego where he worked at a shipyard. He was drafted into the Army, January 19, 1945 and served until October 10, 1946. Bud moved back to Grand Marais and worked for Thoreson’s and also with the construction of Taconite Harbor. He began logging in the 1950s and continued to do so until he was 65. He was a member of the American Legion Post #413. He enjoyed, hunting, bowling, blueberry picking, trapping, and fishing, and held the state record for a brook trout from May 11, 1967 to June of 1994. Most of all Bud loved spending time with his family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary in 2000; grandson, Tyler R. Smith; brothers Basil, Lester, Orville, Bobby, Lonny, and Dallas; and sister, Dorothy.
Bud is survived by his sons, Scott R. (Judy) Kerr, Rocky J. Smith, Todd W. (Pat) Smith, and John “Augo” (Kathie) Smith; daughter, Renee Wood; grandchildren, Michael, Lisa, Jamie, Joshua, Terri Jean, Jessie, Zachary, Justin, Megan, and Robert; many greatgrandchildren, sisters, Doris Walker, June, and Eileen Greene; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was April 30 at Cavallin funeral home in Grand Marais and May 1 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Chippewa City Cemetery.
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