Obituaries: August 29, 2025

Gwenn E. Lilya
Gwenn Elizabeth Ekern Lilya, 87, passed away on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at the Ely- Bloomenson Community Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 29 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with the funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served in the church basement following interment. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Gwenn was born on Feb. 3, 1938, in Detroit Lakes, to Julian and Eileen Ekern. Gwenn graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1956 and attended Concordia College that fall, earning her two-year degree in Elementary Education. She continued her studies during the summers, working toward her four-year degree until the spring of 1958.
In 1958, Gwenn moved to Tower to begin her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Tower Elementary, where she taught for two years until she married James Richard “Dick” Lilya on June 10, 1960. Over the years, she also worked at the Tower Liquor Store, Tower Bakery, and the Y-Store.
Gwenn will be remembered for her warm heart, her love of cooking, and the joy she found in sharing meals with family and friends. She was always eager to try new recipes and was especially known for her famous sloppy Joes and meatballs. She loved being by the lake and spending time at her son’s cabin, surrounded by family. She also enjoyed making trips back to Detroit Lakes to visit family, and she was always ready for a shopping excursion with her daughters. Gwenn and Al’s annual Fourth of July parties on the deck were a highlight for loved ones and neighbors, and she cherished the visits from all who stopped by. Most of all, Gwenn treasured time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, creating memories that will live on in their hearts. Family was always at the center of Gwenn’s life. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. 
Gwenn is survived by her four children, James Lilya, Julie (John) Poderzay, John “Chas” Lilya, and Jessica (Dan) Lenci; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Julie Raphael and Carol (Keith) Bergren; and sister-in-law and special friend, Rosemary Pecha.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Julian and Eileen Ekern; brother, John Ekern; nephew, Bryan Ekern; and life partner, Al Harvat.

Marie A. Fairbanks
Marie Ann Snowflake Fairbanks, 24, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. A wake was held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and a funeral service was held on Wednesday, Aug. 27, both at the Bois Forte Government and Services Center. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Patrick A. Honkola

Patrick Allen Honkola, 75, of Embarrass, has died. A gathering will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2025, in the main chalet at Giants Ridge Ski and Golf Resort in Biwabik. Arrangements are with Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home of Aurora.

He is survived by his brother, Harold; wife, Rita; children, Andrea and Hannes; grandchildren, Riley and Brock; and several nieces and nephews.



Dorothy M. Behnke
Dorothy May Behnke, 97, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Ely. No services are planned. Memorials can be directed to the Warren County Public Library, 62 Public Square, Monmouth, IL 61462 or Camp Voyageur, PO Box 420, Ely, MN 55731. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She was born Dorothy Kern on Oct. 1, 1927, in Osage, Iowa, to Rev. John D. and Irene McPike Kern. She often regaled her children with happy tales of Osage, where she spent most of her childhood. Long into her late nineties she could still recite the Osage High School song - “No higher can we rate her, because she’s our alma mater.”
When Dorothy was in high school, her parents moved to Monmouth, Ill. so that their children could take advantage of the clergy discount at Monmouth College. While attending college, she met the love her life, Gene Behnke, and they married in 1951. Eventually, they settled in Monmouth and raised a family of four – David, Anna, John and Janie.
She taught at various schools, but her favorite job was as the children’s librarian at Warren County Public Library. Few things gave her more enjoyment than holding a session of Story Time surrounded by a circle of bright-eyed children.
Dorothy also harbored an adventurous streak, waitressing at a resort in Door County, Wis., working at Troutdale in the Pines in Evergreen, Colo., moving to Los Angeles, Calif., for a year, and teaching in Littleton, Colo., all before she was married. She and Gene spent many summers in a tiny Rocky Mountain ghost town, without a phone or running water. Far from civilization, she took it in stride when her children rushed in to tell her a mineshaft had opened in the neighbor’s yard. Dorothy was no stranger to sleeping in a tent or burning her socks over a campfire after a particularly soggy mountain hike, but she always said the greatest adventure of her life was raising her family.
Later, she and Gene took a summer job at Camp Voyageur in Ely, a move that would open a whole a new world for Dorothy and her family. They made lifelong friends and eventually built their own cabin just down the shore from the camp. Many summers were spent at the cabin, enjoying the lake with family and friends. After retirement, she continued to enjoy travel and spent several summers working at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo.
Though it was no secret that Dorothy was not fond of chicken, she did love ice cream, kittens, marsh marigolds, baking snickerdoodles, winning at Chinese checkers, paddling up a moon path, a robin’s song before the rain, the winding staircase and rainbow-casting windows of her rambling old house, “diamonds on the lake,” and hugs from her grandchildren. Dorothy loved many things, though it is the love she shared with others that will stay with those who knew her best.
Throughout her life, Dorothy had many names - Dottie, Dot, the May Queen, the Salad Lady, Mrs. B., Sassy, G-ma - but most importantly to her four children… Mom. Her spirit lives on wherever a wildflower blooms, a kitten purrs, or a child smiles.
She is survived by her sister, Marcia (Jim) Hoffmeister; children, Dave Behnke, Anna (Doug) Thompson, John Behnke, and Janie (Brian) Hecht; and grandchildren, Emma Thompson, Anna Hecht, and Matthew Hecht.

Arlene C. Olson


Arlene Carolyn Branwall Olson, 89, of Virginia, originally of Soudan, died on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Carefree Living in Aurora. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Soudan. In lieu of flowers, Arlene requested gifts to the Hannah Olson Memorial Library at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Soudan. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. 

She is survived by her children, Carrie A. Olson of Denver, Colo., Eric (Karen) Olson of Tower, and Andrew (Naima) Olson of Roseville; grandchildren, Ekaterina Olson Shipyatsky, Gunnar Olson, Gavin (Brianne) Olson, Finn Olson, and Samia Olson: great-granddaughter, Hazel Olson; nieces and nephews, Scott (Marilyn) Kregness, Jorgine (Franklin) Gornick, Karen (Ward) Patterson, and Barbara (Steven) Burgess; and extended family and friends.


Ronald H. Thibault


Ronald H. Thibault, 87, of Mt. Iron, formerly of Lake Vermilion-Tower, passed away on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. He always credited his longevity to Essentia Health system and his wonderful care team both in Virginia and Duluth. The family would like to thank Fairview Hospice in Hibbing and Cornerstone Villa in Buhl for their compassion and care. A Memorial Mass was held on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia with Rev. Fr. Daniel Hammer and Rev. Fr. Eamonn Boland as celebrants. Inurnment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Saginaw. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

He is survived by his daughter, Shari Christenson of Virginia; son, Michael Thibault (Debra) of Hugo; daughter-in-law, Gloria Thibault of Texas; grandchildren, Megan and Ryan of Virginia, Tess Thibault of Richfield and Tyler Thibault of Hugo; sister-in-law, Judy Mattson of Eveleth; brother in-law and sister in-law, Wayne and Teri Billings of Arizona; brother-in-law, Joe Schommer; special friend, Pete Opland (Carolyn) of Biwabik; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.