Obituaries: January 10, 2025

Thomas J. Martin
Thomas Joseph Martin, 68, longtime resident of Embarrass, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth after a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service will take place at a later date. Please check the Embarrass Fire Department website for details. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
Tom was born on Oct. 20, 1956, to Earl and Pauline Martin in Chicago, Ill. He grew up on the southwest side of Chicago. Tom was a master of many trades, working on vintage cars, skilled in construction, remodeling and repairing anything mechanical. His artistic side included photography, usually focusing on nature. He mastered the art of pointillism, which is the drawing style of using tiny distinct dots to create an image. He used this style to create a series of nature artwork. 
Tom was a true adventurer, bicycling throughout Illinois. His adventurous streak led him to Embarrass, where he settled into a log cabin. In Embarrass, he continued his passion for dog sledding, equipping himself with a full dog sled team. Tom also raised llamas. Tom joined the Embarrass Region Volunteer Fire Department where he enjoyed serving the community. He eventually became the Fire Chief, a position he was very proud to hold. 
Tom is survived by his mother, Pauline; brother, Ken (Rita); sister, Sandy (Al); and three nephews. 

Pat Schmid
Pat Schmid, 77, of Soudan, died on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Arrangements are pending with Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.

Dennis V. Hilmas Jr.
Dennis V. Hilmas Jr., 57, of Tower, passed away on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Bauman-Cron Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Daniel Hilmas, 1021 South 5th Ave., Virginia, MN 55792.
He is survived by his father, Dennis Hilmas Sr. of New Auburn, Wis.; sons, Daniel (Lexi) Hilmas of Virginia and Darren (Victoria) Hilmas of South Range, Wis.; five grandchildren; sister, Anita (Larry) Milbridge of Tower; nephews, Christoper Hunt and Chandler Brown; Dan and Darren’s mother, Danyell Vesel; and extended family and friends.

Richard R. Klinzing
Richard R. “Dick” Klinzing, 81, longtime resident of Babbitt, died on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Arrangements are pending with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

Larry A. Kujala
Larry August Kujala, 76, of Britt, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, at Hibbing Hospital after a long and brave battle with CAA. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook with visitation one hour before the service and a light lunch following. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook or The Listening Point Foundation in Ely. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Jake; daughter, Meredith (Erin); grandchildren, Emma, Claire, Paige, Mazie and Mack; brother, Clayton; sister-in-law, Ginny; nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. He especially valued his friends since grade school, Gary, Bob, Dave, Rich and Skip.

Peter L. Pastika
Peter Lantz Pastika, 76, lifetime resident of Babbitt, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, with his wife Diane at his side. A celebration of life was held on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at the Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church. A luncheon followed. Pastor Christina Forsythe officiated. Inurnment will be at the Argo Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diane Kay Picar Pastika; children, Kerri (Mark) Rose, Stacey Hodkeiwicz and Joe Pastika; grandchildren, Mikayla (Tyler) Manthe, Julia, Joshua and Rebekah Hodkiewicz, and Anna and Erik Rose; a great-granddaughter; sisters, Susan Pastika and Jana Pastika; and brother, Tim (Lisa) Pastika.

Marsha E. Zottola
Marsha Elaine Olson Zottola, 87, of Cook, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The family is grateful for the care she received in Cook at Carefree Living, Scenic Rivers Clinic and the Cook Hospital. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A reception will follow. There will be cheese. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Donations in Marsha’s memory may be made to Friends of the Cook Public Library, PO Box 126, Cook, MN 55723, or Cook’s Country Connection, 1953 Vermilion Dr., Cook, MN 55723, for the construction of a new public structure. Or just come up to Cook and hit the thrift store hard. Tell them Marsha sent you!
She is survived by her children, Joseph, Sarah (Michael), Josh and Theresa; grandchildren, Jessica, Amy, JessieAnne, Sean, Josh and Sierra; numerous nieces and nephews; beloved in-laws, Ernie and Diana Zottola; and many friends and extended family.

Virginia R. Kaukola
Virginia Rae Kaukola, 90, of Edina, and formerly of Orr, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Bloomington. Services will be held in the spring or summer of 2025. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Betty A. Grunwald
Betty Ann Jewett Grunwald, 84, longtime resident of Embarrass, died on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, at Essentia Health Northern Pines Care Center in Aurora. A celebration of life was held on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the Embarrass Town Hall. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home of Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Terry Grunwald, Deb Grunwald and Dale Grunwald; grandchildren, Jason (Kayla) Holm, Heather (Eric) Pulkinen, Meagan (Jesse) Ciolkosz, Aaron Guski, Daniel Grunwald, Alea Hendricks, Laura Beth Hansen and Trisha Neuromberg; and eight great-grandchildren.

Barbara Schultz
Barbara Autio Schultz, 79, longtime resident of Angora, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Cook Care Center, surrounded by family. A celebration of life will be held in the spring of 2025. Inurnment will be at the Idington Cemetery in Angora at a later date. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her sons, Scott (Karen) Schultz and Kurt (Melanie) Schultz; loving best friend and partner, Alden Bergman; grandchildren, Jared (Samantha) Schultz, Angela (Will) Schultz, Matthew (Emily) Schultz, Jessica White, Jules White and Jaquelyn White; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Beverly Palo.

Shirley J. Olson
Shirley Jean Olson, 84, of Little Sand Lake, Britt, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at her residence. A funeral service was held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at Saints John and Paul Episcopal Church in Virginia with Deacon Kim Heise officiating. Arrangements were with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Kyle (Krissy), Keith (Dianna) and Kevin (Gina); five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Larry (Ardy); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth Shelstad
Elizabeth “Beth” Olson Shelstad, 69, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, surrounded by her loving family. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Grand Ely Lodge. A private interment will be held on a later date. Please honor Beth by sharing your kindness and compassion with those around you. Funeral services have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She is survived by her husband, Dixon; daughter, Riana (Tim) Hegman; grandchildren, Jakson, Charlotte and Sawyer Hegman; many brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Mary Ann Vesel
Mary Ann Basarich Vesel, 84, of Ely, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, at Boundary Waters Care Center after a brief illness, with her husband Ray at her side. A celebration of life will be held in the spring of 2025, so friends and family can gather to cherish fond memories. Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely is assisting with arrangements.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Raymond; son, John (Nina) Vesel; daughter, Sandy (Arlyn) Aronson; grandchildren, Daniel, Sarah and Jason Vesel; sister, Roberta Jean (Lyle) Adams, and their children Kristen (Brian) Brandt and Jenn Pann (Greg D’Alessandro); and special niece and Ray’s goddaughter, Julie Vesel.

Violet R. Maki
Violet Ruth “Vi” Oquist Maki, 87, former longtime resident of Babbitt, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Billings, Mont., with members of her family by her side. Her family is honoring her request that no services be held at this time. They are planning to host a celebration of life and her love for coffee an’ sometime in the summer. Final arrangements have been entrusted to Cremation and Funeral Gallery in Billings.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Nielsen; son, Michael (Lisa) Maki; six grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Leola Vezina
Leola “Lee” Crisman Vezina, 80, of Bigfork, passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at her home in Pine Tree Villa. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
She is survived by her daughters, Julie (Jack) Leblanc and Sandy (Gino) Anselmo; daughter-in-law, Lesley Vezina; fifteen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.