Obituaries: January 22, 2021

Delores M. Vraa
Delores M. “Laurie” Vraa, 82, of Embarrass, died on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in Essentia Health - St. Mary’s Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Embarrass Town Hall. Spring inurnment will take place in the Embarrass Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to the family, 5593 Taylor Road, Embarrass, MN 55732. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
She was born on Sept. 13, 1938, in Goodridge, the daughter of Reuben and Florence (Rindahl) Stenvik. Laurie married Curtis Vraa on March 9, 1957, in Goodridge, and they moved to the Embarrass area in the early 1960s. She was a longtime employee at Jenia’s Appliance in Virginia, a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Embarrass, and a former member of the Aurora Women of the Moose. Laurie loved to bake, cook, dance, snowmobile, travel, and enjoyed winters in Yuma, Ariz.
Laurie is survived by her husband of 62 years, Curtis; children, Steven (Joanie) Vraa of Embarrass, Neal (Nancy) Vraa of Red Lake Falls, Kevin (Robyn) Vraa of Embarrass and Michael (Amy) Vraa of Babbitt; sister, Betty Coan of Thief River Falls; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Tom Vraa; and siblings, Robert and Adeline.

Janet M. Croteau
Janet Marie Korpi Croteau, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, surrounded by family at Edgewood Vista Memory Care. Janet’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to Hannah and the staff at Edgewood Vista for the care and love they had for their mother. A Memorial Mass for Janet was held on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia with Fr. Brandon Moravitz celebrating. Current COVID mandates including masks and social distancing were followed. Inurnment will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik at a later date. Arrangements are by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert.
Survivors include her children, Terry (Lee) Croteau of Lake Vermilion-Tower, Bob (Cecilia) Croteau of Biwabik and Scott (Crystal) Croteau of Cedar Island Lake; grandchildren, Jason (Holly) Croteau, Tara (Matt) Anderson, Celene Butler, Tawnee Croteau and Kendra (Joe) Lewis; great-grandchildren, Cody, Jacob, Daniel, Erika, Lucas, Max, Alanna, Brent, Beau and Sophia; great-great-granddaughter, Leila; sisters, Jacquelyn Thompson, Helen (Dick) Axelson and Debbie Vito; sisters-in-law, Merle Korpi and Joyce Zidarich; and numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.

Ethel J. Barnes
Ethel Jane Barnes, 85, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at the Cook Care Center from an aggressive form of cancer, after a diagnosis two months ago. A visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at Mlaker Funeral Home. A graveside service and burial will be held in the spring. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Carol J. Kangas
Carol Jean Tuomala Kangas, 83, of Sandy Township, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. The family would like to thank Essentia Hospice for the care and kindness they gave Carol. Services were held on Monday, Jan. 18 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. Burial followed at the Ely Cemetery. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her brother, Sandford Ersbo of Mt. Iron; children, Deborah (Bruce) Hoff of Gilbert, Sheri (Wally) Hunsinger of Rocky Top, Tenn., Lorinda (Rex) Purcell of The Villages, Fla., Richard (Diane) Tuomala of Dale City, Va., and Jacinta (Alan) Woehrle of Becker; stepchildren, Kelly (Arron) Sheffield of Sandy Township, Kim (Mike) Peterson of Britt, Kerry (Helen) Kangas of Embarrass, Kris (Gordon) Meacham of Embarrass and Kendall Kangas (Donna Ohlgren) of Champlin; grandchildren, Bryan, Brandon and Nick Hoff, Wallace III and Kristopher Hunsinger, Patrick Jones, Wilson Purcell, David and Dylan Tuomala, Jacob and Katlyn Woehrle; step-grandchildren, Joshua, Luke and Christopher Beyer, Jim Peterson and Karen Devak, Kayla Pandel, Renee Lane, Melissa and Marcell Meacham; nine great-grandchildren; and 10 step great-grandchildren.

Helen I. Lehman
Helen Ida Lehman, 100, of Orr, passed away on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 1 at the Silverdale Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the graveside. Lunch will follow at the Silverdale Community Center. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Reva M. Tyssedal
Reva May Houser Tyssedal, 82, of Virginia, formerly of Embarrass, died on Dec. 12, 2020, at Essentia Health in Virginia. 
Survivors include her children, Scott (Cris) Tyssedal of Minneapolis, Jeff (Lori) Tyssedal of Embarrass and Loni Baird of Babbitt; grandchildren, Krista, Jeff, Tiffany, Trevor, Tyler and Brandon; nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Eva Shaine and Bob Houser; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Billy S. Wilke
Billy Starr Wilke, 42, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, at the Virginia Hospital. A memorial service was held on Friday, Jan. 15 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. A reception followed at the Cook Muni.