Victoria (Vikki) Lynn Elberling,
58, of Hovland, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 in Duluth after a short struggle with cancer. She was born May 1, 1956 in International Falls, Minnesota. For the past 25 years she has lived on the North Shore in Hovland.
She is survived by her mate of 32 years, Shawn Perich of Hovland; her mother, Doris Kay of Ham Lake, Minnesota; a daughter, Cynthia Hamsmith of Cloquet, Minnesota; a son, James (Chris) Elberling of Duluth; two sisters, Christy (Kevin) Gullickson of Blaine, Minnesota and Cathy (Dan) Horst of Ham Lake; a brother, Richard (Terri) Harris of Yorktown, Indiana; and four grandchildren, Joseph Hamsmith of Two Harbors, and Jenna, Annika and Preston Elberling of Duluth. She is also survived by Shawn’s mother, Terese Perich of Duluth.
Vikki was employed for many years as a sales clerk at Joynes Ben Franklin in Grand Marais, where she came to know many people who lived on or visited the North Shore. She served for many years as a medical first responder for the Hovland Area Volunteer Fire Dept.
Vikki loved her dogs, especially Abby, her companion for nearly 17 years. She was happy spending time in her garden, traveling on road trips and roaming the backroads of the North Shore to look for moose. She was happiest when she was with her family and her friends, especially when her grandson, Joe Hamsmith, came for visits.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Clearwater Grille (formerly Lakeview Castle), 5135 North Shore Drive, Duluth. A special Victoria Elberling Memorial Fund has been set up at the North Shore Federal Credit Union, 122 E. Hwy 61, P.O. Box 460, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
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