Obituaries: February 20, 2026

Darlene C. Lamppa
Darlene Carolee Lamppa, 91, formerly of Embarrass-Palo, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Essentia Health Virginia Hospital in Virginia. Arrangements are being made with Range Funeral Home of Virginia.

Arlene E. Wiermaa
Arlene E. Wiermaa, 86, of Virginia, formerly of Vermilion Lake Township, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at Essentia Health Northern Pines in Aurora. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Richard Hill
Richard “Dick” Hill, 81, of Ely, passed away on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at home with family by his side. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely.
He is survived by his children, Sandy (Barney) Lakner, Cory (Clifford) Noble and Rich (Lisa) Hill; grandchildren, Monica (Blake), Cody, Kyle (Emily), Brendan, Blayne and Madison; great-grandchildren, Skyler, Callie, Myla, Peyton, Jameson, Lyla and Eden; sister, Wendy (Gene) Reed; numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.

Glenwood Nyman
Glenwood “Glenn” L. Nyman, 86, of Ely, passed away on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Carefree Living in Babbitt after a lengthy battle with cancer. Burial will take place at the Ely Cemetery in the spring. A special thank you to Glen’s hospice team, Babbitt Carefree Living and Vermilion Senior Living for the compassionate care provided to Glen. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his daughter, Kay (Bob) Richards and grandchildren, Robert and Brandon Richards, all of Babbitt; son, Loren (Josephine) Warner of Ely, and grandchildren, Abigail, Glen and Justin of California, and Joshua of Ely; nieces, Marie, Laura and Sandra; and nephews, Robert and Paul.

Thomas L. Riley 
Thomas Lee Riley, 76, of Ely, a proud U.S. Army veteran, passed away at his residence on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely. 

Albert D. Kovall 
Albert Dennis Kovall, 81, of Ely, a proud U.S. Navy veteran, passed away at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely. 

David Holmsten
David Holmsten, 72, of Babbitt, a proud U.S. Navy veteran, passed away at Waterview Woods Nursing Home in Eveleth on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.

Frances Church 
Frances Church, 92, passed away on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.

Georgia A. Braun 
Georgia Adeline Sames Braun, 97, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the home where she raised her ten children with the help from her beloved husband Bill. She generously donated her body to the University of Minnesota for medical research. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
She is survived by her children, Mary (Chris) Peterson, Tom (Deb) Braun, Mike (Chris) Braun, Cindy Kuhar, Beth Patterson, Cecilia (Randy) Bennett, Peter (Karen) Braun, Cathy (Frank Ivancich) Braun; daughter-in-law, Robin Braun; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.