Obituaries: August 15, 2025

Dr. Douglas A. and Marcia L. DeGroote
Douglas A. and Marcia Lenore DeGroote, beloved parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, educators and friends, passed away peacefully in their home in Merino, Colo. A burial for both Marcia and Doug will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia.
Doug and Marcia dedicated their lives to education, serving for many years as educators. Their passion for learning and encouraging students left a lasting impact on generations of students. Doug and Marcia traveled extensively with family and lived in many places throughout their lives, but their hearts belonged to the family cabin on Lake Vermilion, which they considered their true home since childhood. It was there that they met at 15 and 16 and had in each other best friends and true love. They found joy, connection with family, neighbors, and nature. They will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew them.
Doug and Marcia are survived by their daughter, Holli DeAntoni-DeGroote; son, Terry DeGroote (Chris); grandchildren, Ryan DeGroote (Jennifer) and Rachael Letney (Don); great-grandchildren, Eleri and Alaric Letney and Irene DeGroote; and lifelong friend, JoAnn Halunen.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Marianne DeGroote. Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, William and Lenore Uren of Virginia; and brothers, David and Terry Uren.

Patricia A. Monson
After nearly 15 mostly optimistic years of battling Parkinson’s disease, Patricia Ann “Patty” Monson, 83, of Embarrass, died on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in the twilight hours of the full moon knowing that her loved ones’ gentle hand-holding and hugs, their tender sentiments and tears were there to help guide her passing. Her spark - her admirable strength, her determination and will, her spunk and love of life - is no more. Funeral arrangements have been made with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. A service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Pastor Christina Forsythe will commence a ceremony of honor and remembrance at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Patty will be laid to rest at a later time in the Embarrass Cemetery.
Patty was born to Allen and Lorraine Sletten on Dec. 9, 1941, a Tuesday, in Willmar. Patty grew up alongside her big sister, and later her little brother, primarily on the family farm in Shevlin. The farm is where she learned, from her mother, her lifelong gardening, harvesting, cooking and canning skills, as well as how to help tend her father’s dairy cows and other livestock. Her parents, both musicians, likewise seeded within her a love of music and ‘barn-dancing.’ It was there in Shevlin, with her long braids and ponytails sashaying in all directions, that she attended grade school in what was commonly referred to as a “one-room schoolhouse,” where she was remembered as a helpful, considerate student and an eager learner. In the winter months the little schoolhouse remained the catalyst for how and why Patty learned to love cross-country skiing. As there were no buses to transport students, she literally skied “over the river and through the woods” along the snow-covered trail that bordered her father’s fields.
Patty graduated from high school in Grand Marais after her family purchased an A&W drive-in in Tofte, where she was a carhop. It was there at the drive-in that, in 1958, she met John Monson, her soon-to-be husband - ultimately her best friend and companion - and eventually, her supportive and understanding caregiver. Together, John and Patty had five children all within a five-year span of time. As parents, the two of them provided their children with a beautiful home in Embarrass – the first of four homes that, together, they would build from the ground up - along with many, mostly outdoorsy types of adventures, which simultaneously bestowed lifelong memories. On Friday, Aug. 29 of this year, John and Patty would have been married a total of sixty-six years.
Patricia is survived by her best friend and dance partner, John; brother, Douglas; sons, Joel and Jim; daughter, Kim; 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and in-laws on both her and her husband John’s side; and many kind, caring friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved sister, Marilyn Norby; son, Terry; son, Bruce; great-granddaughter, Xoi; numerous in-laws and other family members; and many, many cherished friends.
“Sleep. We Sleep, That We May Dream While We May” ~ Neil Diamond, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Geraldine Johanson
Geraldine “Geri” Grahek Johanson, 78, of Bloomington, originally of Ely, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Interment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery.
She is survived by her sister, Mary (George) Grahek; brother, Mathew (Beth) Grahek; and numerous cousins.

Phillip S. Clark
Phillip Sheridan Clark, of Braselton, Ga., formerly of Babbitt, graduated this life and ascended into the arms of his divine father on Monday, July 14, 2025. A loving husband, father of four children, grandfather and great-grandfather, he had recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. Graveside service and burial of urns for both Phil and Helen were held on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Argo Cemetery in Babbitt. Memorials are preferred. The family was assisted by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
Phil was born in Bemidji on May 26, 1932. He was the third child of Randolph and Florence Whiting Clark. He graduated high school in LaPorte and attended Bemidji State Teachers College. In the fall of 1954, he married Helen Joyce Hayes. Together they raised two daughters, Connie and Jan, both registered nurses, following in their mother’s footsteps; and two sons, Patrick and Curtis, who passed away unexpectedly in 1973.
Phil was a locomotive engineer for Reserve Mining Company for 20 years and sold kitchen cabinets, flooring and appliances in Babbitt at Phil’s Home Center. In 1981, he and Helen moved south to Georgia where he had a decades-long career designing and manufacturing cabinets. He loved photography and technology. He always had the latest iPhone and iPad. His mind and memory were sharp until the end. Phil was known for his steadfast faith in the Lord, his friendliness, generous spirit and for his wise counsel.
Phil is survived by daughters, Connie (husband Glenn) Harle of Hibbing and Jan Clark of Braselton, Ga.; granddaughter, Dr. Marissa Harle (husband Dr. Nicholas McCann) of Wausau, Wis.; grandson, Patrick (wife Brooke) Harle of Hibbing; great-grandchildren, Oliver and Elsie Harle of Hibbing; nieces, nephews and countless friends in Georgia and Minnesota.
He is reunited in death with his wife, Helen; mother and father; sister, Carol; brothers, Quintin and James; and sons, Patrick and Curtis.

Evelyn Foote
Evelyn “Pat” Foote, 95, of Woodbury, and a longtime summer resident of Ely, passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. She will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., at a later date. Arrangements are with Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She was born in Durham, N.C., on May 19, 1930. Pat was a career U.S. Army officer, serving on active duty from 1959 to 1989, and rising to the rank of Brigadier General. Her key assignments included public affairs officer in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and command at battalion, brigade and post levels. She was a graduate of Wake Forest University (BA) and Shippensburg University (MS) and held an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Wake Forest University. Pat is best remembered in the Army for holding many firsts and for being a fierce advocate for military women.
ln 1994, Pat was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission and subsequently to the Site and Design Committee of the WWII Memorial. From 2006 to 2016, she met the Ely High School senior class at the WWII Memorial, briefing them on its history, design and construction.

Richard D. Pearson
Richard D. Pearson, 78, previously of Burnsville, died on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in St. Paul. Interment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery in late August. Condolences may be sent to Riverwood1787@outlook.com. Arrangements are with Simple Traditions of St. Paul.
Richard was born on Nov. 28, 1946, in Virginia, to Russell L. and Madeline Longhway Pearson. He grew up in Tower and graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in 1965 and Ely State Junior College in 1967. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1971 and later in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for 20 years. He worked at Northwestern Bank, SuperValu and retired from Snyders Drug Stores, where he was a pharmacy tech. He was a Camp Grandir board member and a longtime volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis.
Richard is survived by his sister, Diane (George) Power; sister-in law, Carol Pearson; niece, Jennifer Gardner; nephew, Richard Power; three great-nephews and a great-niece; and many cousins, including Mary Beth Reller and Robert Pearson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, James Pearson.

Jeanette A. Prijatel
Jeanette A. Weinzierl Prijatel, 82, of Ely, passed away on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held at Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely on Friday, Aug. 15 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a service at 6 p.m. 
She is survived by her children, Dan Prijatel of Britt, Jon (Holly) Prijatel of Ely, and Carrie (Danny) Lange of Eveleth; grandchildren, Jake and Cooper Prijatel, Eddie and Sammy Prijatel, and Dylan Lange; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Debbie Weinzierl; and sister-in-law, Dianne Weinzierl.