Obituaries: August 5, 2022

Susan Felix
Susan Brown Felix, 66, of Lake Vermilion and formerly of Minneapolis, died on Monday, July 25, 2022, at Miller-Dwan Hospital in Duluth. A private celebration of life will be held. Memorials may be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower. 
Susan was born on April 11, 1956, in Minneapolis, the daughter of James and Betty (Ostercamp) Brown. She was a graduate of Washburn High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota. Susan was united in marriage to Dennis Felix on June 25, 2009, at Lake Vermilion.
Susan was a retired home remodeler. She had also worked as an assistant manager at a garden center. She was a kindhearted person who cared for everyone. She was a member of AA, and was active with the Tower-Soudan Civic and Community Club. She enjoyed gardening, and was especially fond of feeding all the animals around her home.
Susan is survived by her husband, Dennis; sister, Carolyn E. Brown of South Minneapolis; longtime friend, Stephen L. DeMers Jr. of South Minneapolis; extended family members and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents.

Lois J. Sauerbry
Lois Jean Sauerbry, 94, of Lake Vermilion and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2021, at her home in Johanna Shores Senior Living in Arden Hills.
Lois taught eighth-grade English in Cedar Rapids for 23 years and her hobbies included reading, golfing and entertaining. Dutch and Lois purchased a cabin for their family on Pine Island in 1969 and they enjoyed life on the lake to the fullest. Lois loved sharing cabin adventures with her grandchildren, often leading them behind the cabin to the secret climbing tree while loudly singing “Boo Bear” to scare off wildlife. She also loved sharing personal lake stories, including about one April when she and Dutch cross-country skied four miles from Glenwood Resort to Pine Island, paddling in a two-man raft when they would come upon open areas of water. 
Lois is survived by her husband of 72 years and the love of her life, Luvern “Dutch” Sauerbry; beloved children, Jane Travis (Mike), Steve Sauerbry (Laurie) and Jim Sauerbry (Sarah); seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Lois and Dutch fulfilled their lifelong dreams at the lake. Many years ago, she penned the following poem to express her love for Lake Vermilion.

In winter’s midst we close our eyes
To see the blue-orange-red sunsets in Vermilion skies,
And when the northern yards are deep in snow,
We remember the warmth of the tall pines that grow
Close to the cabins we call home.
These pines shelter us from unknown fears
And they’ve kept us safe all these years.
We conjure up through winter’s cold
The sounds of Vermilion’s waves, crashing and bold
Or the smoothness of a calm, still lake
That breaks diamond droplets in our wake.
There are those of us who have mixed in our blood
The tonic waters of Vermilion’s flood.
We have in mid-winter this powerful urge
To leap into the boat and feel the surge
Of Vermilion’s waters.
We must paddle our canoe in the moonlight shimmer
And gaze at the firelight as it grows dimmer
At night, on Lake Vermilion.

We need to sit and read our book
In only our cabin’s cozy nook
Where hummingbirds whirl around the flowers,
Daisies and forget-me-nots grow in the bowers
Of Lake Vermilion.
Blessed are we who feel the glow
It is Vermilion.
It permeates our souls.
Forever.

Dorothy A. Udovich
Dorothy Ann Benko Udovich, 90, of Gheen, passed away at home on Friday, July 29, 2022. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, Aug. 4 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cook. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
She is survived by her sons, Dennis (Irene “Mimi”) and David (Carol); grandsons, Steven and Derek Udovich; and great-grandchildren, Danika, Elizabeth and Jack Udovich.

Joanne E. Thibault
Joanne Elizabeth Schommer Thibault, 80, of Mt. Iron, formerly of Lake Vermilion-Tower, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022, at her home with her family by her side. A special thank you to the East Range Hospice team for their caring, compassion and friendship to Joanne during her illness.
A Memorial Mass was held on Monday, Aug. 1 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia. Burial was in the State Veterans Cemetery in Saginaw. Arrangements were with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ron; children, Shari Christenson of Virginia and Mike (Debra) Thibault of Hugo; grandchildren, Megan (fiance Will) Christenson, Ryan Christenson, Tess Thibault and Tyler Thibault; siblings, Judy Mattson, Teri (Wayne) Billings and Joseph Schommer; daughter-in-law, Gloria Thibault; special friend, Pam (Dan) Beihoffer of Tower; and nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Derrick L. Byron
Derrick Lee Byron, 34, formally of Angora, passed away from heat exhaustion in Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday, July 22, 2022. Funeral arrangements are pending. An account has been set up at gofundme.com to cover the costs of his unexpected funeral.
He is survived by his brother, Trevor; mother, Lisa; father, Craig; godmother, Dawn Shepard; grandma, Karen Byron; cousins, aunts and uncles; and a cat named Muffin.