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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries - Sept. 14, 2018

Posted

Tina Brown

Tina Hardy Brown, 50, of Soudan, died on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, in Essentia Health Virginia after a valiant fight with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 in the Tower Mini-Park. Inurnment will take place in the Ely Cemetery. Family services provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.

Tina was born on Dec. 8, 1967, in Ely, the daughter of Tom Helm and Dorothy Lushine, moved to Wisconsin, and returned to Soudan in the late 1980’s. She married Russell “Rusty” Brown on July 2, 2005, in Tower, and they made their home in Soudan. She was employed as the manager for D’Erick’s Tower Liquor for 20 years. Tina loved motorcycle riding, concerts, swimming, and people.

Tina is survived by her husband, Russell “Rusty” of Soudan; mom, Dorothy Lushine of Ely; brothers, Carl Hardy of Silver Bay and Kevin Helm; children, Travis (Jenna) Benck of Soudan and Matthew (Katie) Benck of Palo; stepsons, Jacob Brown of Hibbing, Kyle Brown of Babbitt and Karl (Angel) Brown of Eveleth; grandchildren, Declan Brown of Babbitt and Ezekiel Benck of Soudan and Brynlee; extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by Tommy Helm and Dave Hardy.

Michael P. Bayliss

Michael Patrick Bayliss, 62, died peacefully but unexpectedly on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, in his home in Cook. A celebration of life was held on Monday, Sept. 10 at First Lutheran Church in Hibbing. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home in Hibbing.

Michael was born on March 17, 1956, to Roger and Lois Bayliss in Crosby. He was raised in Iron Hub. In 1974 he moved to Keewatin and worked at National Steel and was a member of USWA Local 2660. During the mining lay-offs in the 1980s he started and operated Minnesota Promotion. After being called back to work, he was a driving force and chairman of the National Steel Career Development Program.

He married Susan Dimatteo on Sept. 14, 1991. Together (Susan mostly along for the wild ride) they flipped houses, had rental property, and the Pizza Mill. He retired from Keetac (NSPC) in 2003, but moss did not grow under his feet. Mike helped son James with many Live Generously projects, loved to mentor kids, and worked in his workshop building many intricate cutting boards, and one-of-a-kind cigar box guitars. He made many requested projects for family, and repaired and gave away reclaimed broken items from the dump. He was always creating.

He loved spending time with his family and playing poker with his favorite daughter-in-law. Mike was “Pops” to his grandkids, and to many adults as well. He would even brand his wood creations with “Pops”. His amazing magic tricks, quick wit, big bear hugs, and engaging smile will be missed. Mike loved fishing and taking his family on charters on Lake Superior and up to Rainy to experience sturgeon fishing, most often with his best friend and brother-in-law, Jerry Ferrier. Oh, the adventures those two had!!

There are many unfinished projects. His life is over too soon. If you knew him, there was never any question of his enthusiasm or love. You felt it fully.

Mike will be greatly missed by his wife, Susan of Cook; daughters, Angela (John) Schweiberger and Amber (Troy) Silvia, and sons, James (Kristen) Bayliss and Kyle Dimatteo, all of Hibbing; grandkids, Ethan, Cameo, Faith, Stella, Ava, Adelyn, Gavin, Jacksen, Sylas, Kylee and Evelyn; great-grandkids, Vivian and Logan; best buddy and loyal four-legged companion, Gilligan; sisters, Candace (Jerry) Ferrier, Nan Berg, Susan (Charlie) Berg and Mary Parker, all of the Crosby area; and too many nieces and nephews to name - he loved you all.

Welcoming him to the other side, Mike was preceded in death by his parents; mother- and father-in-law, Tom and Lorraine McDonald; brothers, Joe and Mark; sister, Nadine; brother-in-law, Jerry Berg; and grandson, Myles Schweiberger.

Mary T. Smuk

Mary T. Smuk, 88, of Ely, passed away on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely with visitation being held one hour prior to the service at the church. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Robert Olsen

Robert “Bob” Olsen, 88, of Cook, formerly of Babbitt, went to his heavenly father on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. A memorial service was held on Monday, Sept. 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Bob’s family wishes to thank the staff of the Cook Nursing Home for the excellent care he was given during the past five years. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Bob was born to Hans I and Milla (Johnson) Olsen on May 9, 1930, in Hibbing. He grew up in the Mahoning Location. He spent his Sundays and summers at his grandparents’ homestead “Haley” near Cook. Bob attended Hibbing High School and then went on to serve his country in the United States Army. On Sept. 14, 1957, he was united in marriage to Corrine Zastrow in Hibbing.

In 1962, Bob began working at Reserve Mining in Babbitt and raised his family there. Bob also operated Babbitt Heating from the mid-1960s until his retirement in 2004. Bob was a Babbitt City Councilman and Mayor for nearly two decades. Following Corrine’s death in 2004, Bob moved to Cook, where he enjoyed living at his cabin on the family homestead. Since August 2013, he had lived at the Cook Nursing Home as his Parkinson’s disease progressed. Bob’s life was defined by his commitment to his faith, his family, and his community.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Leanne (Don) Negley of Babbitt; son, Scott (Lynn) Olsen of Cook; goddaughter/niece, Kelly (Paul) Bates of St. Cloud; son of the family, Shawn (Gina) Carter of Austin, Texas; granddaughters, Morgan (Tom) Klatt and Samantha Olsen; grandsons, Cameron (Nicole) Negley, Myles Bates, Tyler Bates and Riley Bates; great-grandchildren, Adeline, Gunnar and Bowde Klatt, Payton and Ezmay Olsen; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Corrine; and siblings, Ruth, Gladys, Norman, Hans II, James and Ragna.

Tina Brown, Michael Bayliss, Mary Smuk, Robert Olsen