Ruth Helen Harnell, Ruth Helen Harnell, 88, formerly of Twig, went to be with her Lord, peacefully, on Thurs., Aug. 25, 2005 in her home at Edgewood Vista, Hermantown.

She was born on Aug. 5, 1917 in Duluth to Hans and Magna Louise (Thorp) Johnson and had been a Twig resident for most of her life. She had been a resident of Edgewood Vista for the past two years. Ruth married George C. Harnell on June 23, 1937 at Grand Lake Church and they enjoyed 68 wonderful years together. She was a member of New Life Covenant Church of Twig and its Ladies Aid. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, reading, playing board games, her church and in earlier years, canning.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Engwall and Bill Johnson, and sister Louise Harnell.

Survivors include her husband George, children Roger (Janine) Harnell of Concord, Calif. and Marge (Gary) Billman of Duluth, sister Lorraine (Jim) Blum of San Rafael, Calif., sister-in-law Phyllis Johnson of Kodiak, Tenn., brother-in-law Harold Harnell of San Rafael, grandchildren Mark (Cheryl) Billman, Sharyn (Mike) Sundquist, Brian (Debra) Billman, Laura (Tony) Conyers, Alison (Bob) Evans and Leslie (Scott) Shahade, great-grandchildren Mitch and Rachel Billman, Erik (Tonia) Sundquist, Megan Sundquist, Boyd and Grace Billman, great-great-grandchildren Erik Jr. and Jessica Sundquist, Briana and Hailey Conyers, Maddie and Maren Shahade and Jenna Evans and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff of Edgewood Vista for their care and compassion, while Ruth was a resident.

Services were Monday in New Life Covenant Church in Twig, Pastor Bradley Shannon officiating. Burial in Grand Lake Cemetery.

Walter E. Sorenson, Gregory (Mary) Sorenson of Proctor is in bereavement following the death of his father, Walter E. Sorenson. He died at his Hermantown home on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 after a long battle with ALS ‘Lou Gehrigs Disease’. He was 76.

He was born Dec. 19, 1928 in Superior, Wis., to George and Olive (Stafford) Sorenson. Walter grew up in Holyoke, Minn., where he attended school. He attended trade school in Chicago, Ill., and he was an Army veteran. A Hermantown resident since 1954, Walter spent his entire working life as a machinist. He worked at National Iron from 1955 until it closed in 1984. He then worked at Superior Lidgerwood Mundy until he retired in 1993. Walter was active in the Machinist union, the DFL party, he was a member of the Free Thinkers group, and he was a tree farmer. Protecting the environment was important to him. He was married to Marlene Bosiacki in 1951.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Alyce Sorenson; and his brothers, Ray and Harvey.

He is also survived by his daughter, Beth Johnson of Hermantown; two other sons, Walter of Hermantown, and Ross (Sue Bourke) of North Port, Fla.; his grandchildren, Nicole and Randy, both of Proctor, and Tara, Lindy, and Wade of Sarasota, Fla.; his brother, Oliver of Holyoke; his sister, Violet Pearson of Cloquet; his sister-in-law, Viola Sorenson of Holyoke; and his constant companion, his dog Packer.

Visitation continues today, Thursday from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service. Military Honors will be accorded by The Duluth Combined Honor Guard. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Holyoke Cemetery.

Donald P. Johnson, Dave Johnson of Proctor is in bereavement following the death of his father Donald P. Johnson. The Duluth resident died Sat., Aug. 27, 2005, at the age of 70.

He was born in Duluth on August 27, 1935 to Harold and Mary Oswald Johnson and was a 1953 graduate of Central High School. Don was a Navy veteran, serving from 1954-1958 on board the USS Los Angeles and USS Walker. He married Kathleen Cole in Duluth on June 7, 1958. He had owned businesses in Duluth, the last being D.J. Fastener Supply, before his retirement. Don was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church and former active member of Mount of Olives Baptist Church. He loved boating with his wife Kathy and family. His lifelong dream was to live and travel on a boat for five years. His dream was fulfilled. He also enjoyed watching stock car races.

His parents preceded him in death.

He is also survived by his wife of 47 years Kathleen, sons Daniel of Hermantown, Richard (Lynn) of Cloquet, daughter Lynnette (Gerald) Hansen of Cloquet, brother Ken (Cathy) of Duluth, sister Judy (Dick) Terwilliger of Oklahoma City, Okla. and 11 plus grandchildren.

Visitation at noon until the 1 p.m. funeral service today, Thursday, at Lakeside Baptist Church, 4501 Glenwood St., Duluth. Burial at Sunrise Memorial Park.

Lowell “Tuffy” Richard Dougherty, Lowell “Tuffy” Richard Dougherty, who grew up in Saginaw and was a former resident there, died Fri., Aug., 26, 2005 in Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet. He was 71.

The Cloquet resident was born April 18, 1934 in Duluth to David and Grace (Sandberg) Dougherty. He also grew up in Blackduck. Lowell graduated from Brookston High School in 1952. On November 11, 1961, he married Rosemary Chapman in Saginaw. Lowell worked for Ulland Brothers in construction, until retiring in 1982. He was a member of Local 49. Lowell enjoyed hunting.

Lowell was preceded in death by his sisters Marian Lind and Maxine Haley and his brother David J. Dougherty.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years Rosemary of Cloquet, sons John of Cloquet and Mark (Sonya) of Saginaw, daughter Mary (David) Raether of Saginaw, brother Douglas (Sharon) of Inver Grove Heights, sisters Virginia (George) Larson of Saginaw and Doris Reynolds of Arkansas, five grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Tues., Aug. 30, 2005 in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Saginaw.