Obituaries

Gene Curtis Arola, 65 years old, passed away May 24, 2022 at Miller Dwan Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota, with his sisters, June and Diane at his side. Gene was born March 15, 1957 to Milma and Hjalmer Arola.

Samantha Lee Hervey was born October 13, 1996, in International Falls, MN, to parents Leroy Eugene Hervey and Florence Helene Hervey. This began a short life of searching for truth, understanding, and spirituality, a quest whose answers always seemed to be just out of Sam’s reach.

Leone “Bunny” Adele Katrin, 87, of International Falls, Minnesota, died on Friday, May 27, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Society - International Falls. Bunny was born on September 22, 1934 in International Falls to parents, Albert and Gladys (Hafdahl) Palm.

Joellyn Carol Christensen, 88, of International Falls, died Sunday, June 5, 2022 at The Good Samaritan Society - International Falls. She was born March 23, 1934 in Fort Frances, Ontario to Edward and Yvonne Belanger.

Charlene passed away peacefully at the Littlefork Care Center on June 5, 2022 She was born June 17, 1931 in Littlefork to Charles Sr. and Violet Pickar.

Judy L. Puska, age 76, of GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge, formerly of North Branch, received her heavenly wings on May 17, 2022.

Donald George Piekarski, 79, of International Falls, MN, died on Monday, May 23, 2022 at Essentia Health - St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, MN.

Orville Roland Larson fell asleep into Jesus’s arms on May 20, 2022 at the Littlefork Care Center. Orville, age 87 was born in Roseau, MN 12/10/1934 to Oscar and Edith (Mattson) Larson. He was baptized and confirmed in his Christian faith at St. Paul Lutheran in International Falls. Orville was blessed to find the love of his life Leona and was joined in Holy Matrimony to Leona L. (Johnson) Larson on 8/22/1959.

John William Smart, 70, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, died on Saturday May 7, 2022 at the University of Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, MN He was born on September 25, 1951 in International Falls, MN. John owned John’s Carpet and Floor Care and did business in International Falls from 1980-2002.

Beverly Lynn (Batcher) Bragg, 72, of Loman, MN passed away surrounded by her loving family at Rainy Lake Medical Center in International Falls, MN on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Bev was born in Littlefork, MN to parents Dwayne and Sylvia Batcher on March 19, 1950.