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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries: October 15, 2021

Posted

Josh S. Polich
Josh Steven Polich, 41, of Cook, departed this earthly life on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. A Celebration of Life will be held outdoors at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry - Camp Vermilion, 2555 Vermilion Camp Rd. in Cook. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Josh’s journey in life began on Dec. 5, 1979, where he was born in Virginia. Josh grew up in the Cook area where his love for the great outdoors began at a young age. His summers were spent fishing, boating and working on Lake Vermilion. Later in his youth he developed a fondness for the arts, especially music.
In 1998, Josh graduated from Cook High School. He went on to receive a degree in graphic arts from Eveleth Technical College, and then furthered his education at The University of Wisconsin-Stout for graphic design.
Josh fell in love with the Eau Claire area which he called home for many years and… became an avid Packers’ fan. While working in the graphic arts industry he became passionate for the culinary arts as a sous-chef. 
Following his dreams, Josh began to travel. He spent his later years living, working and enjoying the great outdoors of California and Hawaii, before returning to his hometown of Cook.
Josh’s gentle spirit and kind smile will sadly be missed as he starts his ultimate adventure.
Josh is survived by his parents, Steven and Lynn Polich; brother, Zachary (Paige) Polich; grandmother, Hope Simpson; aunts, Susan Polich (Steven) and Loann Trygg; uncles, Brad (Connie) Simpson and Troy (Dawn) Simpson; cousins, Scott Trygg (Michelle), Tracy (Greg) LaPatka, Bo (Carissa) Simpson, Brenna Simpson and Brynn Simpson; and numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Nickolas and Helen Polich; and grandfather, Robert Simpson.

H. Roger Lamppa
Herman Roger Lamppa, 88, of Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at Waterview Pines in Virginia. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower with a reception following. Pastor Liz Cheney officiated. Arrangements were with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
Roger was born on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1932, in Waasa Township to parents Richard Victor Lamppa and Rose Marie (Rapinoja) Lamppa. He grew up in Embarrass and graduated from Embarrass High School in 1950. On March 7, 1953, he married Joan Carlson of Soudan in Duluth, and together they raised six children.
Roger graduated from Eveleth Junior College with an Associate of Science Degree. At the University of Minnesota-Duluth, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with degrees in history, social studies and physical education. He furthered his education with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Bemidji State, a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from St. Cloud State, and a Family Counseling Certificate from the Alfred Adler Institute. He did additional graduate studies in history and social studies at Penn State and UMD, as well as high school counseling at the University of North Dakota and Denver.
After graduating from UMD, Roger taught history and social studies and coached at Argyle and Beulah High Schools in North Dakota, and later at Blackduck High School in Minnesota. (The Senior Class of 1965 dedicated its yearbook, The Black Quill, to him.) From 1967-1990, he was High School Counselor in Benson, where he also taught the Lions Club Quest Drug program.
Roger was a life member of the Minnesota School Counselor Association, and also a member of the National Education Association, Benson Lions Club, Tower-Soudan Lions Club (past president), and Eagles Nest Lake Association.
Roger was interested in politics, considered himself a C-Span junkie, and watched Morning Joe regularly. He also enjoyed traveling across America and to Finland, as well as visiting many Presidential Libraries and numerous Civil War battle sites.
Growing up, Roger played football, basketball and baseball for Embarrass High School, and won several all-star honors. He also boxed and was a big fan of Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. In addition, Roger loved country western music, particularly Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. He spent and enjoyed his retirement years at the family lake home on Eagles Nest Lake, relaxing, chopping wood, reading, and maintaining “heaven on earth”.
Roger is survived by his wife, Joan; their six children, Robin (Barb) Lamppa of Fargo, Jeena Hughes of Glenwood, Judy Janke of Blaine, Jody Lowther (Bill) of Golden, Colo., Ryan Lamppa of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Jaclynn (Dale) West of Minneapolis; brother, Fred (Karen) Lamppa of Britt; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Flora Koivisto and Kathleen Janeksela; brothers, Raymond, Bernhardt, Francis and Herbert Lamppa; and sons-in-law, Barry Janke and Daniel Hughes.

Sharon J. Ridlon
Sharon Jean Kujala Ridlon, 68, originally of Alango, passed away with her loving husband by her side on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Balkan Community Center, north of Chisholm.
She is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Roy; son, Mike (Shelby); daughter, Michelle (Jim); brother, Steve of Chisholm; sister, Kathy Arola of Cook; numerous nieces and nephews; and special niece, Jeanie Pessenda of Chisholm.

Ray E. Ruoho
Ray E. Ruoho, 79, originally of Littlefork, passed away on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Duluth. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr with Brita Hammit officiating. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) in memory of Ray Ruoho at 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Suite 205, Lilburn, GA 30047. Arrangements are by Dougherty Funeral Home of Duluth.
He is survived by his wife, Beatrice Swieringa Ruoho of Duluth; children, Brita Hammit (Dallas) of Phoenix, Ariz., Paula Zahniser (Stephen) of Boise, Idaho, and Clinton (Mats Hansen) of Duluth; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many loved nieces and nephews. Although his Lewy Body Dementia became severe, he was able to stay at home because of the loving care given by his niece, Char Majeski, for more than the last year of his life.

Dana H. Miller
Dana H. Miller, 77, of Pengilly, formerly of Tower, died on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at Sanford Health Neilson Place in Bemidji. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing with Mike Adams officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service at the funeral home. Private interment will be in the Nashwauk Cemetery in Nashwauk. Memorials are preferred to your local DAV organization or the National DAV. Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcia Wilson Miller of Pengilly; sons, Nathan (Andrea) Miller of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Darin (Katie) Miller of Lino Lakes; sister-in-law, Patty (Jim) Helin of Minneapolis; brother-in-law, Leo Jeffrey (Gloria) Wilson of Philippines/Guam; four grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews.

Ira A. Brown
Ira A. Brown, 85, of Tower, died on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at Ely Bloomenson Hospital in Ely with family at his side. A family-directed memorial service was held at the Lake Vermillion Wellness Center on the Bois Forte Vermilion Reservation on Friday, Oct. 8. Inurnment will be at a later date in Oregon in the Willamette National Cemetery. Family services were provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his children, E. Maxine (Dennis) Park of Kennewick, Wash., Lavon D. (Donald) Nelson of Orem, Utah, Jeanine (Jorge) Montoya of Cherry Hill, N.J., L. Gaye (Louie) Rios of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Timothy M. (Cindy Mettler) Brown of Canyon, Amy P. (Shane Kenney) Mattera of Portland, Ore., Shauna L. (Mathew) Peters of Shaw, Ore., and Paul A. Brown of Portland, Ore.; sister, Helen E. Bryant of Port Orchard, Wash.; brother, F. George (Ellen) Brown of Port Orchard, Wash.; 22 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends.