Richard “Dick” Louis Blechel, Richard “Dick” Louis Blechel, D.D.S. passed away peacefully at his home on the shore of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif. on Wed., Sept. 27, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 78.

Dick was born in Proctor on Aug. 26, 1928, to Olive and Ed Blechel. He grew up during the Great Depression Era on a little country farm. After his graduation from Proctor High School in 1946, he moved out west and joined the Marine Corps. To support himself through college, Dick spent summers in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska working as a concrete finisher. He also helped to build the airport in Anchorage. He began his college studies at Cal State Fullerton, graduating from USC Dental School in 1962. Ever loyal to his USC Trojan football team, he set up his dental practice with a classmate in Santa Rosa. He retired in the early 1990’s and moved to Hidden Valley Lake with his wife Katherine.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Olive Blechel and his brother Warren.

He is survived by his loving wife Katherine, two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren, three sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held at Santa Rosa Memorial Park at the Veteran’s Garden Pavilion Sept. 30, 2006.

Gerald Edward Norlund Jr., Gerald Edward Norlund Jr., “Mr. Nor-Floors”, 43, of Hermantown, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on the morning of Sun., Oct. 1, 2006.

Jerry Jr. was born in Duluth on Sept. 5, 1963 to Beverly and Gerald Edward Norlund Sr. He attended Denfeld High School and married his high school sweetheart, Ruth (Mudek) on Feb. 28, 1986. In 1990, he started Nor-Floors, a family owned and operated business, which his family grew from scratch into a successful store, and operated until his untimely death. He was a member of the National Rifle Assn. and St. Rose Catholic Church, where he was confirmed as a Catholic in 2002. He was a peacetime veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 20 years Ruth, his children Jacob, Luke and Katie, all at home, his grandfather, a brother and sister-in-law, a sister and brother-in-law, his step-mother, two aunts, several nieces and nephews, and his dogs Sassy, Scooby and Blue.

Visitation will be Friday from 9 until the 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rose Catholic Church, 2 6th Ave., Proctor, Reverend Father James Bissonette officiating. Burial will be in Oneota Cemetery.

Terrance Albert “Terry” McGovern, Terrance Albert “Terry” McGovern, who grew up in Proctor and was a 1958 PHS graduate, passed away Mon., Sept. 25, 2006. He was 66.

He was born in Duluth to Albert and Alice McGovern. Terry was a Minnesota State Trooper, retiring in 1995, after 33 years of dedicated service. He was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Third Degree Knights of Columbus, Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Assoc., and the Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Assoc.

Terry was preceded in death by his father Albert and a brother Dennis.

He is survived by his loving wife Cathie, his children Dan (Joelle), Steve, Kay (Joel) Johnson and Mark (April), ten grandchildren, his mother Alice, two brothers, five sisters and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held Fri., Sept. 29, in St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Burial at Sunrise Memorial Park.