Stewart Sterling, Word has been received that Stewart Sterling, a 1948 Proctor high school graduate, has died.

Sterling, a resident of Cottonwood, Arizona, died Dec. 21, 2008. His survivors include his wife Mirian.

Margaret Marion Black, Margaret Marion Black, 95, who was born in Munger and was a 1931 Proctor High School graduate, passed away peacefully Dec. 24, 2008 in Diamond Willow in Proctor.

A longtime resident of West Duluth and Sand Lake (Moose Lake), Margaret was born October 29, 1913 to Ole and Gertrude Corser.

In 1937 she married Thomas A. Black. Margaret worked a variety of jobs at the Willows, Glass Block, Boyce Drug Store, and Litton Industries. She was an active member of Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, West Duluth, which later combined with others to become Trinity Episcopal Church, Hermantown. She was best at being a homemaker, mom and grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her husband Tom in 1998; son Robert J. in 1999; grandson Christopher T. in 1993; her parents; two brothers and five sisters.

Margaret is survived by son Thomas (Diane) of Duluth; daughter Judy (Jay) Anderson of Hermantown and Sarasota; daughter-in-law Shelley Black of Duluth; six grandchildren, Mark (Mary), Bryan (Jennifer), Sherry Anderson, Candy Murray, Justin (Andrea), Nathan; 13 great-grandchildren Tony, Spencer, Evan, Avery, Jacob, Joshua, Brittnee, Katie, Marrissa, Kylie, Keegan, Gabrielle, Kyler; sister-in-law Edna Corser of Hermantown; many nieces and nephews; extended family and friends.

A memorial service was held Monday Dec. 29, 2008, with Father Kevin Gordon officiating.

Shirley E. Tie, Shirley E. Tie, of Proctor, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008, in St. Mary’s Medical Center Hospice.  She was 75.

Shirley was born in the family home in Proctor on January 26, 1933 to Edward and Elsie (Zebott) Bentz.  Shirley graduated in 1951 from Proctor High School.    She was a member of Forbes United Methodist Church.  She was a wonderful wife, mother and devoted grandmother. 

She is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, James, Dale, and David Bentz. 

Shirley is survived by her husband, Truman; her two sons, Thomas of Willmar, Minn.; and Michael of Lakeville, Minn; her granddaughter, Megan Doyle Tie of Lakeville and her sister-in-law, Barbra Bentz of Duluth; and many nieces and nephews. 

A private service will be held at a later date.  Inurnment will be in Oneota Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary’s Hospice and Palliative Care, 330 E. Second St., Duluth, Minn. 55805. 

George Schilling, George Schilling, lifelong resident of Solway Township, passed away peacefully with his children at his side, Thursday, January 29, 2009, at Solvay Hospice House.

He was born May 28, 1952 in Duluth to Arnold and Lois (Scouton) Schilling. He graduated from Proctor High School in 1970, worked for St. Louis County for many years, and drove bus for the Proctor School District.

George was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, as well as with his daughter and her horses.

George was preceded in death by his father.

He is survived by his mother, Lois; his son, Jason Schilling and his daughter Megan Schilling, Cloquet; two grandchildren, Samantha and Zachary; his brother Roger (Frances) Schilling and sister Kathleen (LeRoy) Hanson, all of Duluth; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held Monday, February 2 at Bell Brothers Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Solway Cemetery in the spring.

Norman B. Malvick, Norman B. Malvick, 90, a Proctor High School graduate and Proctor resident for 55 years, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 in St. Mary’s Medical Center.

The Commonwealth Ave. resident was born on Oct. 12, 1918 in Duluth to Adolph and Louise (Ahlsgaard) Malvick.

He attended Merritt Elementary School, Laura MacArthur Junior High School and Proctor High School. He married Esther Grote on July 10, 1948 in St. Rose Catholic Church, Proctor. Norman served in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class aboard the U.S.S. Washington, from 1943 to 1945. He then worked at the Klearflax Linen Looms and then Northwest Radio for 20 years, before retiring.

Norman was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, Proctor. He enjoyed building and working with wood, the outdoors, family gatherings and playing games with his grandchildren.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Arnold and Henry; and a sister, Clara Conley.

He is survived by his wife, Esther; sons, Roger (Vicki) of Prior Lake, Minn., Rod (Mary) of Alborn, Dennis (Carrie) of Proctor and Dean (Kimberly) of Falcon Heights, Minn.; grandchildren, Craig (Nikki) Malvick of Duluth, Darin Malvick of Proctor, Kelly (Brad) Hundt of Onalaska, Wisc., Reed Malvick of Minneapolis, Brent Malvick, Brian Malvick and Trevin Malvick, all of Alborn and Brittany Malvick of Proctor; great-grandchildren, Mykayla and Taylor Malvick and Bryden and Brant Hundt; and nieces and nephews, Leita Hobby, Karen Beck, Bud Malvick, and Mike, Steve, Jeff and Patti Ann Conley.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Rose Catholic Church Monday, Reverend Father Joel Hastings officiating. Burial at Oneota Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.

Lloyd W. Towner, Jr., Lloyd W. Towner, Jr., PHS Class of 1941, passed away January 24, 2009. He was 85.

Lloyd worked for the DM&IR for a short time, while pursuing his education. He served in WWII aboard the Naval Destroyer USS Bryant. He spent the majority of his career as the VP of Human Resources at Coast to Coast Hardware. Upon his retirement, he served as a consultant to various volunteer organizations. He was a member of the Euclid Lodge No. 198, Duluth, DAV and VFW 5555.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents and brother, George.

He is survived by wife Helen of 58 years; daughters, Sue Ryder and Nancy Towner; sister Beverly Christensen of Sacramento, California; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Lloyd’s love of family and life will always be remembered.

A memorial service was held at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, Minnesota. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.

Joseph Patrick Laurent, Joseph Patrick Laurent of Luray, Virginia, died January 30 at Page Memorial Hospital in Luray. He was 41.

Joseph was born in Duluth on September 4, 1967, to Hermis and Kathleen Laurent of Cloquet. He graduated from Proctor High School in 1986. After graduation, Joe moved to Luray, where he worked as a painter and a maintenance person for Page Memorial Hospital. He was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2003.

Joe loved to fish and hunt, spending a lot of time outdoors with his son, Joseph, Jr. He also enjoyed music, singing, playing guitar and collecting baseball cards. He touched the lives of many people, making many friends who treated him like family throughout his illness.

Joe is survived by son Joseph; his parents Hermis and Kathleen Laurent, Cloquet; sisters Cheryl (Dan) Larson of Saginaw and Angela (Ben) Urban of Cloquet; brothers Harold, Michael (Debbie) of Cloquet and James (Terri), Honolulu, Hawaii; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was expecting his first grandchild in June.

A funeral service was held in Luray, Virginia, February 5. A gathering for family and friends will be held at the Solway Town Hall, Wednesday, February 11 from 5-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter, 333 N. Washington Ave, Suite 105, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401.