Robert V. ‘Moose’ Ekholm, Brad Genadek of Proctor is mourning the death of his father, Robert V. ‘Moose’ Ekholm. The Duluth resident passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital on June 26, 2006. He was 67.

He was born in Duluth on May 12, 1939 to Vernon and Emma (Besser) Ekholm. He graduated from East High School in 1957 and then served in the United States Army. He was a board member and secretary for the Duluth Softball Players Association. He also served as an umpire. He was a member of Good Shepard Lutheran Church, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, David.

Robert is also survived by his wife, Gail; children, Karen (Ron Denn) Tillmann of White Bear Lake, Minn., David (Annette) Ekholm of Lakeville, Minn., Brad Genadek of Proctor, Teri (Don Hiller) Genadek of Marathon, Fla.; five grand-children, Jennifer, Katherine, David, Matthew, and Benjamin; and his beloved Springer Spaniel, Bentley.

A memorial service was held.

Mary J. Donovan, Alice (Richard) Saarela of Proctor is mourning the death of her mother, Mary J. Donovan. The Ely resident passed away Sat., July 1, 2006 at the Ely Bloomenson Nursing Home. She was 90.

She was born on October 10, 1915, the daughter of Ignace and Mary (Stefin) Pucel in Ely. Mary graduated from Ely Memorial High School and owned and operated the Newsette in Virginia until she moved back to Ely to take care of her ill mother. Mary was a member and held many offices in the VFW Auxiliary Post #248 and was a member of the North American Benefit Association.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a son Patrick in 1956, brothers Ingnace Jr., Frank, Joseph and Louis, and her sister Angela D. McCaffrey.

She is also survived by her son Daniel (Marianne) Donovan of Ely, grandsons Richard (Kristen) Saarela, Scott (Kerry) Saarela, and Robert White, granddaughter Julie (Lance) Lohman, great-grandchildren Megan, Blake, Abby, and Ian Saarela, Mike, Eric and Jessica Lohman, and Lydia Thompson, sisters Joan (Eino) Maki and Frances (Leroy) Sellars, and 13 nieces and nephews.

Services were held July 5, 2006 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely. Burial at the Ely Cemetery.

Patricia Veronica (Dulinski) Werner, Patricia Veronica (Dulinski) Werner, of Duluth, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 in Chris Jensen Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was 78.

She was born March 10, 1928 in Duluth to Stanley and Helen (Schultz) Dulinski. She married Thomas ‘Bill’ Werner on June 8, 1946. She was a long time parishioner of St. John’s Catholic Church.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles and Leonard Dulinski; sisters, Mildred LaFlair, Eleanor Abrahamson, Irene Yutrzenka and Dorothy Pecore; daughter-in-law, Vera Werner; and great-grandchild, Amanda Bird.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas ‘Bill’; daughter, Kathleen (Clifford) Bird of Saginaw, Minn.; sons, John (Barbara), Roger, Richard, David (Nancy) all of Duluth, Duane (Lorie) of Meadowlands, Minn.; brother, George (Charlene) Dulinski of Duluth; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren with two on the way; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held in St. John’s Catholic Church.

Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery.

Nancybeth Sedgwick Thayer, Former Proctor resident Nancybeth Sedgwick Thayer died Fri., June 30, 2006 in St. Mary’s Medical Center after a long battle with MS. She was 49.

Nancybeth was born June 22, 1957 in Minneapolis to Charles and Bette (Tritchler) Sedgwick. She graduated from Edina East High School and attended Augsburg College. Nancybeth married David Thayer on December 29, 1979 and they moved to Proctor in 1997. She recently moved to Hermantown. She was a member of Mt. Olive English Lutheran Church and Peace In Christ Lutheran Church. Nancybeth loved to play her flute and piano; she had directed her church’s children’s choir and she loved to write. Most of all she loved taking care of her children.

She was preceded in death by her husband David in 2002.

Nancybeth is survived by her children Zechariah, Lucas, twins Jeremiah and Joel, and Christiana, all at home, her parents Bette and Charles Sedgwick of Edina, sisters Colleen Belgum of Remer, Janice (Dan) Larson of New Hope, and Pamela (Steve) Neidenfeuhr of Becker, great aunt Nellie Engelking of Ashland, Ore., and many nieces, nephews and special friends.

Services were held last Friday in Peace In Christ Lutheran Church.

Steven V. St. John , Steven V. St. John of Saginaw died Thurs., July 13, 2006 in Rochester. He was 36.

He was born May 22, 1970 in Mankato. Steve was a truck driver for Viracon in Owatonna for 13 1⁄2 years and loved his job. In 2003, Steve was united with his daughter, Brittany A. Young (St. John) and built a fast and loving relationship.

Steve is survived by his children Christopher and Stephanie of Mankato, Cody of Askov and Brittany Young (St. John) of Saginaw, fiancee and closest friend Kim Mullen of Saginaw, stepsons James Young and Kyle Makitalo of Saginaw, parents Victor and Shirley St. John of Janesville, and brother Michael St. John of Colorado. Steve built a very close relationship with his extended family, Richard and Susan Lowinski of Duluth, Barry and Donna MacDougall of Duluth, Casey, Amanda and Jacob MacDougall of Duluth, Marty, Kris, Mandy and Josh Greenwood of Saginaw, Rick and his daughter Sydney Lowinski of Duluth, and most of all, his beloved cat, Kassie (Rotten).

Services are today (Thurs., July 20, 2006) at 2 p.m. in First Memorial Funeral Chapel, 4100 Grand Ave. with Rev. Joe Koranda officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Donna Rinker Lake, Donna Rinker Lake, who was born in Proctor and was a graduate of Proctor High School, died Fri., July 7, 2006, at Innovative Assisted Living in Hermantown. She was 82.

She was born on Dec. 23, 1923 to Donald O. and Edna (Keefe) Rinker. Donna was a graduate of Young & Hursh Business College. She worked as a secretary for several West End businesses. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Plus 55 Club.

Donna is survived by her brother Thomas R. Rinker of Hermantown, nephew James LeBlanc and niece Joan (William) Eng , both of Duluth, niece Leslie Koopman of Tacoma, Wash., and several other nieces and nephews.

Services will not be held at Donna’s request. Inurnment will be at Oneota Cemetery.