Rev. Herbert Q. Groettum, Rev. Herbert Q. Groettum, Edina, formerly of Proctor where he served as a pastor, died Thurs., June 15, 2006, in Minneapolis. He was 74.

He was born Dec. 28, 1931 in Minneapolis to Clarence and Lillian (Andre) Groettum. He attended St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He married Marguerite Shoemaker in Eau Claire, Wis. June 19, 1954. He has served as pastor in many communities including Black Earth, Wis., Proctor, Riverview, Mich., Duluth, Keewatin, and Warba, Minn., retiring from ministry in 1994. He also was a stockbroker in Duluth and Hibbing for the Paine Webber brokerage house and owned Tomahawk Lodge, a resort in Blackduck, Minn. Following the death of his first wife Marquerite, he moved to Edina. He later married Joanne Engebretson in Minneapolis in 1999.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marguerite, a stepdaughter Kathy Engebretson, a brother Robert, and sister Elaine.

He is survived by his wife Joanne, children Mark (Donna) Groettum of Hibbing, Todd (Niki Mistelske) Groettum of Warba, Kip (Laurie) Groettum of Pine Island, Rosanne (Brian Dombrowski) Groettum of McKinley, stepchildren Maria Engebretson of Edina and Tom Engebretson of Cokato, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Services were held yesterday in Hibbing. Burial in the Rauba Cemetery in Palo, Minn.

Fred R. “Slim” Sundin, Diane (Terry) Johnson of Munger is mourning the death of her father, Fred R. “Slim” Sundin of Hermantown. He passed away on Tues., June 13, 2006, at St. Luke’s with his family at his side. He was 87.

Slim was born in Brunswick, Minn. on December 5, 1918 to Olaf and Emma (Peterson) Sundin. Slim was the definitive jack-of-all-trades. He was a steelworker, boiler-maker, truck driver, pipefitter, and woodcarver, who also served in the military in his youth. A talented, self-taught singer and guitar player, Slim was the self proclaimed singer of sad country songs who entertained both family and friends. He was an avid fisherman, dog lover and cribbage player and was a member of American Legion Post 71.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years Mary, and his parents.

Slim is also survived by his children Richard (Hazel Ann) of New York, Robert (Barbara) of Duluth, Judith (Bob) Van Leyen of Calif., Bruce (Juliet) of Cloquet, Susan (Lee) Carlson of Las Vegas, and Lori Burton of Tenn., 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, sisters Ruby Linskie and Maryann Lahde, brother Roy Sundin, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Burial at Bethany Cemetery in Hermantown.

Clifford Carl Dahl, Clifford Carl Dahl of Saginaw died on Wed., June 14, 2006, in his home. He was 77.

Clifford was born in Prosit, Minn. on August 3, 1929 to Carl and Edith Ronkainen Dahl. He attended school in Alborn and lived his life in the Saginaw area. Clifford worked for the DM&IR Railroad as a welder for 30 plus years until his retirement. After his retirement, Clifford enjoyed traveling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Harry.

Clifford is survived by his wife Doris, son Carl Dahl of Milwaukee, Wis., and sisters Anne Dahlman of Cloquet and Ruth Amborne of Carlton.

A memorial service will be held today, Thurs., at 1 p.m. in the Handevidt Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Pine River Cemetery.

Allen Lawrence Fameree, Allen Lawrence Fameree of Saginaw, Minn. died Sunday, June 18, 2006 in Rochester. He was 67.

He was born November 12, 1938 in Casco, Wisconsin to Ernest A. and Emma A. (Delain) Fameree. After high school he served in the U. S. Air Force, after which he lived in the Duluth area. Allen graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in accounting/business. He worked at DM&IR Railroad, Minnesota Power, Spirit Mountain, and retired as owner of Community Printing in Cloquet. Allen was a member of Fredenberg Community Chapel, and had been active in numerous community organizations.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Bernard, Ervin, Joseph, Orville and James, and sister Betty Arendt.

Allen is survived by his wife Tobilyn, son Benjamin of Saginaw; daughters, Karla (Charlie) Dison, and Lisa Rentz both of Rochester, Rachel Fameree of Saginaw; grandchildren, Sydney, Riley, Andre Dison and Dominic Rentz all of Rochester; brothers, Sam (Joan), Frank, and Ernie (Mary Ellen) all of Casco, Wisc.; sisters, Ethel Heier of Kewaunee, Wisc., Elsie Gengler of Richfield, Wisc., Rita (Lloyd) Heraly, Jeannette (Dale) Vandervest, Emmy (Rudy) Hanamann, and sister-in-law Mary Ann Fameree all of Casco, Wisc., and numerous relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 6 p.m. today, Thursday, June 22, 2006 at Fredenberg Community Chapel, 5069 Fish Lake Road, Duluth. Visitation begins at 4 p.m., Pastor Glenn Johnson officiating.

Violet “Vi” Gustafson, Violet “Vi” Gustafson of West 6th Street died Wed., June 14, 2006, at St. Eligius Health Center. She was 85.

She was born January 2, 1921 in Duluth to Axel and Hilda (Magnusen) Peterson. Violet attended Denfeld High and worked at Chun-King for many years. She was united in marriage to Helge Gustafson on July 3, 1942 in Duluth. They proudly celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2002. She was a lifetime member of Elim Lutheran Church. Vi was very active in the altar guild, a member of the Mary Martha Circle and the fellowship club. She always enjoyed every family gathering and her time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Vi was loved by everyone who knew her and will be missed very much.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Helge in 2002, brothers Harold and Vernon, sister Evelyn, and close cousin Marion.

She is survived by her daughters Janet (Philip) Shaw of Fla. and Karen (Mark) Granholm of Proctor, five grandchildren, Janell (Rob) Sanders of Italy, Chris Shaw of Fla., Julie (Tim) Carroll of Cloquet, Jamie (Ray) Ruotsalainen of Proctor, Jackie (fiancé Bill Onnen) Granholm of Saginaw, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Services were Monday at Elim Lutheran Church. Pastor Jim Hagen officiating.

Burial at Oneota Cemetery.

Edwin Rasmussen, Betty (Jim) Merling of Proctor is mourning the death of her father Edwin Rasmussen. The former Ensign St., Duluth resident died Sat., June 24, 2006 at Benedictine Health Center. He was 94.

He was born in Barron County, Wis. on Sept. 1, 1911, to Erick and Anna Rasmussen. He moved to Duluth in 1936 and married Wilma Nelson on Dec. 12, 1936. Edwin had worked at Willie Lumber Co. and later retired from U.S. Steel, after 29 years of service. He also worked as a self-employed logger. Edwin was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Men In Mission. In his younger years in Wisconsin he was a pitcher on the local baseball team. He also had been a member of the Zion Lutheran Church softball and bowling teams and enjoyed fishing and deer hunting. During his stay at BHC he had made many diamond willow walking sticks.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one sister, one grandson, one great-grandson, and son-in law Bruce Ellefsen.

He is survived by his wife Wilma, other children Elaine Ellefsen, Eleanor (Gordon) Larsen, and Janet Rasmussen, all of Duluth, and Raymond (Carol) Rasmussen of Two Harbors, four brothers, three sisters, 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the special staff on the second floor at BHC.

Funeral service was Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church. Burial at Park Hill Cemetery.

Lorraine C. Gaidis, Kent (Tasha) Gaidis is mourning the death of his mother, Lorraine C. Gaidis. The Duluth resident died Tues., June 20, 2006 at Viewcrest Health Center. She was 79.

She was born in Duluth to John and Cecelia Kessler and was a 1944 Denfeld High School graduate. She married Stan Gaidis in Duluth in 1949. Lorraine worked as an operator with N.W. Bell and was church secretary at St. Clements until its closing. She later retired in 1997 as church secretary at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Lorraine is also survived by her husband of 57 years Stan, another son Michael (Mary) of Duluth, grandchildren Shannon (Chris) Stevens, Stephanie (Chris) West and Luke and Lacy Gaidis, sisters Virginia (Cliff) Nelson and Geraldine Erickson, both of Duluth, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were last week in St. Lawrence. Burial at Polish Catholic Cemetery.

John Vukelich, John Vukelich, who worked for Proctor Builders, died Wed., June 21, 2006 in St. Mary’s Hospice Unit with his wife by his side. He was 83.

He was born June 3, 1923 in Duluth to Thomas and Lucy (Vukelich) Vukelich and then lived on the same block for 79 years, until 2000. John was a veteran of World War II having served in the Army Air Force at the China-Burma-India (C.B.I.) Theater. He was co-owner of a service station in Duluth Heights. He retired from Radford Co. in 1986. John was a member of C.B.I. and Elk’s Lodge 133.

John is survived by his wife Mildred of 59 years, son Tom (Linda) of Duluth, daughter Dianne (Paul Buckentin) of Duluth, grandchildren Gretchen (Dr. Andrew) Baltus of Boston, Mass. and Geoffrey Vukelich of Duluth, and nephews Ronald (Leslie) Vukelich of St. Cloud, Robert (Judy) Vukelich of Cloquet, and Joseph Vukelich of Duluth.

Services were last week in Dougherty Funeral Home. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Park.

Bob David Effinger, Bob David Effinger of Pike Lake passed away in his home with his family by his side on Sunday morning June 25, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.

Bob was born Nov. 22, 1930, to Leon and Alyce Effinger. He was the third of five children. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1948. Bob served in the US Marine Corps, earning two Purple Hearts and is a veteran of the Korean War. After being wounded a second time, he returned to his US Steel job, where he worked for 30 years, retiring in 1979. He was also a Realtor for 50 years for the Overman Company, and an entertainer, playing piano bars and dinner establishments in and around Duluth. In his early years, he competed in Stock Car Races in Duluth and Proctor. He was a member of the Proctor Moose Lodge 1302 and the VFW 137. Bob married Joyce Iverson in 1958 and was a loving husband and a caring father to six children. Bob liked to dance, sing, water ski, snowmobile, play the piano and his many other string instruments; he was a very talented man. His warmth, kindness, sense of humor and music will be missed by his family, relatives and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his father Leon Effinger, and mother Alyce Stockwell, son Gary, and infant sister Loraine.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 48 years, Joyce, children Claudia (Jeffrey) Oliver of Farmington, Debra Engstrom of Eagan, Bob David, Jr. (Kathleen) of Chicago, Kathleen (Jay) Nelson of Minnetonka, and Bill Q. (Colleen) of Saginaw, 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, brothers Erwin (Jackie) and Dean (Donna), both of Duluth, and a sister Francine (Dennis) Pitkanen of Champlin.

Funeral service was Tuesday at Williams-Lobermeier with Rev. Henry D. Noordzy officiating. Burial at Oneota Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.

Leo E. Hartel, Leo E. Hartel, who founded his independent business, Duluth and Proctor Garbage Service in 1952, and oversaw its growth until his retirement in 1985, died Wed., June 21, 2006 at St. Mary’s Medical Center Hospice. He was 83.

He was born on May 22, 1923 in Flaxton, N.D., to Joseph and Emily Hartel. Leo was a graduate of Portage High School in Portage, Wis. He married Lorrayne Robillard in Duluth on Sept. 2, 1950. He was proud that his family business was entering its third generation of providing service to the community. Leo was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Parish and was involved in many church organizations and projects over the years. He was a volunteer driver for St. Louis County Social Services, which allowed him to visit with his many friends and former customers. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as spending summers with his family at the cabin on Lake Elora. Leo particularly enjoyed wintering in Arizona, where he played cards and soaked up the warmth with his fellow “Snowbirds”.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lorrayne, and brothers Richard and Gilbert.

Leo is survived by his children Greg (Linda) of Hermantown, Cindy (Gary) Zoldak of Duluth and Dan (Mary) of Hermantown, and grandchildren Kari, Lauren, Lindsey, Amanda, Valeree and Kevin.

Services were held yesterday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial at Calvary Cemetery.