Norman H. Nelson, Jane (Irvin) Hagen of Proctor is saddened by the death of her father Norman H. Nelson, 93, lifelong Duluth resident, who passed away Friday in St. Eligius Health and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born in Duluth on April 7, 1914 to Ernest and Theresa Nelson. Norman attended Morgan Park High School. He was a World War II veteran. On Nov. 1, 1947, he married Vivian Glanville in Proctor and together they raised two daughters. Norm began his employment working at the Steel Plant. Norm went on to be employed with D.M. & I.R. where he was an engineer, retiring in 1976. Norman was an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Golden Arrow Travel Club, enjoyed bowling into his 80's and active on the Stadium Lanes Bowling Leagues, was an avid and accomplished photographer who shared his travel slides with area groups, enjoyed flower gardening, but most of all loved being with his family.

Norman is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Edward. Survivors include his wife, Vivian; another daughter, Cheryl (Rodger) Parendo of Duluth; five grandchildren, Paula (Bruce) Carlson, Julie (Mark) Lysher, Christy (Phil) Strohm, Melissa (Jason) Finnelly, and Tommy Hagen; five great-grandchildren with the sixth expected in March; one brother, Lloyd (Donna) Nelson of Duluth; and nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held yesterday. Interment in Oneota Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Bryan Jack Merrill, Alex Gross (Brian Hendrickson) of Proctor is mourning the death of her son, Bryan Jack Merrill. The Cloquet resident died Friday, August 31, 2007. He was 22.

Bryan will also be sadly missed by his father, Don Merrill (Patti Hofstrand) of Cloquet; sister, Barbara Merrill of San Angelo, Texas; grandfather, Jack Merrill of Cloquet; and his grandmother, Catherine (Robert) McDonald of Cloquet.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Barbara Merrill and grandfather, Bert Gross.

Visitation will be from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007 in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet.

Violet Lucille Stafford (Klang), Violet Lucille Stafford (Klang), who graduated from Proctor High School in 1944, went to be with her heavenly family on Sat., Sept. 8, 2007. She was 81.

She was born on March 22, 1926 to Carl and Hilda Klang in Braham, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband William, daughter Barbara Omundson, brothers Lawrence and Theodore. sisters Helen Mansmith, Martha Dahl, Marion Montgomery and Florence Jannetta.

She is survived by children Judy Sands (Stephen), Deborah Peterson (Gerald), Jacqueline Anderson (Kent) and William (Tammy), brothers Herbert Klang (Alice), Earl Klang (June), Ernest Klang (Delores), 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law Robert Stafford (Dorothy) and Walter Stafford (Bette).

Funeral services were held Tues., Sept. 11, 2007 at Forbes Methodist Church, Proctor. Memorials to Forbes Church or donor’s choice.

Jeannette C. Lavamaki, Bill (Dawn) Lavamaki of Proctor is in bereavement following the death of his mother, Jeannette C. Lavamaki. She passed away peacefully on Sat., Sept. 1, 2007, in St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was 80.

She was born March 12, 1927 to Lewis and Etta Lawrence. Jeannette married Donald E. Lavamaki in November, 1947. She was a long time Park Point resident, a former member of St. Andrews-by-the-Lake Episcopal Church, the Park Point Community Club, Moose Lodge 505 and the American Legion.

Jeannette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald in 1986 and brothers Jim and Bob Lawrence.

She is also survived by her children Janice (Stephen) Anderson of Makinen, Minn. and Texas, Ray (Colleen) Lavamaki, David (Diane) Lavamaki, and Carol Hillstrom, all of Duluth, Jim (Gayle) Lavamaki of Cloquet, Roberta (Mark) Veale of Moore, Okla., six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law Betty Lawrence of Thousand Palms, Calif. and Norma Lawrence of Great Falls, Mont.

A memorial gathering was held Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007. A private family service will be held at a later date.

Alexander James “Bug” Klang, Services were held Mon., Sept. 10, 2007 for Alexander James “Bug” Klang. He passed away Thurs., Sept. 6 at home, surrounded by his family. He was 14.

Alex was an active, sociable angel-baby and will be greatly missed by his mom, dad, brothers and sisters. He loved watching Elmo, Thomas the Tank Engine, NASCAR, football and hockey. He also loved going shopping, for rides in the car or his dad’s semi, and cellophane window envelopes. His favorite books and magazines were Elmo, Thomas, TRUCKS magazine and Car and Driver magazine. He loved going down to Highway 2 to watch the semi trucks go by and would get very excited when they used their air horns to honk at him.

Alex is survived by his mom and dad, Lori and Scott Nuessmeier, his brother Dan Klang, sisters Emily and Rachel Klang, maternal grandparents John (Jack) and Irma Robison, paternal grandparents Fay and Wayne Nuessmeier and Ernest and Delores Klang, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and one nephew. He is also survived by his father Lawrence Klang, and brothers Paul (Cathy) Klang of Wis. and Jared Klang of Hermantown.

Services were held at Family of God Lutheran Church on Martin Road, officiated by Rev. Daniel Holm and Rev. Larry Johnson.

Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Violet Marie Streed Edman, Violet Marie Streed Edman, who was born on Sept. 21, 1919 in Proctor to Mary and Axel Streed, died in Rockport, Texas on Sat., Sept. 8, 2007. She was 85.

Violet graduated from Proctor High School in 1937. She married William Edman in 1941. She lived many years in Cloquet and in Sebring, Fla. until moving recently to Rockport.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Wesley Streed, and sisters June Weiler and Janice Caywood.

Violet is survived by her husband William “Bill” of Rockport, children Keith (Cheryl) Edman of Rockport and Nikki Edman of Nopeming, brother Wallace (Marge) Streed and sister Donna Kaye (Jerry) Waldholm, and several nieces and nephews.

Burial will be at a later date. Arrangements made in Rockport.

Rosemary C. Benson, Rosemary C. Benson, a graduate of Proctor High School, passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 with her family at her side. The Duluth resident was 69.

She was born in Duluth on April 10, 1938. She was a very loving and caring daughter, sister, mother and grandmother. She will be deeply missed. Her family was the most important thing in her life. She had a passion for Genealogy and worked on it for years, helping many others around the country.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bert and Ruby Busch.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years Charles “Skip” and the other two great loves of her life, son Rob and granddaughter Amanda, all of Duluth, brother John (Leora) Busch of Duluth, and many nieces and nephews.

A private family funeral is planned.