Obituaries
Edith Ann Snortland
May 15, 2026
Hancock
Edith A. Snortland, 86, passed away May 15, 2026, at White Oasis in Hancock, MI.
She was born on August 9, 1939, in Antioch, CA, the daughter of Harold and Albert Mellor. She was raised in Northern California.
In 1960, she was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Snortland. In 1963, they moved from Grass Valley, CA to Grand Forks, ND. Edith’s...
Mae LaRue
Mar 26, 2026
Atlantic Mine
Mae M. LaRue, 95, a former resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Woodland Heaven, of Canal View -- Houghton County, where she had been a resident patient.
She was born on October 27,1930, in Atlantic Mine, MI, a daughter of the late Eino and Anna (Saalasti) Kaiponen. Mae was raised in Atlantic Mine and was...
Juliana H. Marttila
Nov 24, 2025
Liminga
Juliana Helen Marttila, née Lahnala, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Portage Pointe in Hancock, Michigan.
Juliana, affectionately known as "Jewels," was beloved by many. Juliana was born on July 31, 1931, to William and Esther Lahnala on the family farm in Liminga, Michigan. She attended Liminga and Redridge schools and graduated from Houghton High School in 1948....
Daniel Carlson
Jun 3, 2026
HancockDaniel Carlson, 57, a resident of Hancock, unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from an apparent drowning accident.Daniel was born on September 22, 1968, in Laurium, to David and Annette (Niska) Carlson. He was raised in Laurium and was a graduate of Calumet High School with the class of 1986.On July 23, 1988, he was united in marriage...
Roy John Kangas
May 30, 2026
Dodgeville
Roy John Kangas, age 80, died on May 30th, 2026, in Hancock, MI, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. His family was with him during his last days here.
Roy was born on March 3, 1946, in Estelline, SD, to Edward and Evelyn (Lehtola) Kangas. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from high school in Lake Norden,...
Michael Nels Peterson
May 20, 2026
Tapiola
Michael N. Peterson, 69, a resident of Tapiola, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at his home following a short illness.
He was born on July 31, 1956, in Hancock a son of the late Nels and Elaine (Klemett) Peterson. Mike was raised in Painesdale and South Range. He was a graduate of the Jeffers High School with the class...
Margaret Fay Kangas
May 18, 2026
Little Traverse
Margaret Fay Kangas, 67, a resident of Little Traverse, Michigan, passed away suddenly on Monday, May 18, 2026, at her home.
Margaret was born on December 23, 1958, in Hancock, Michigan, to the late Raymond and Sylvia (Kesti)Larson. She was raised in Atlantic Mine and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School class of 1977.
In 1978, Margaret was united...
Richard Hietala
May 18, 2026
Chassell
Richard Hietala, 88, a resident of Chassell, passed away Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.
He was born on May 10, 1938, in Hancock, a son of the late Edward William and Impi Marie (Lehto) Hietala. Richard was raised in Chassell and was a graduate of the Chassell High School with the class of 1956.
Upon graduation, Mr....
Dale Robert Kamppinen
May 11, 2026
Superior Location
Dale R. Kamppinen, 58, of Superior Road in Houghton, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Dale was born on March 14, 1968, in L’Anse, MI, the son of Robert Kamppinen and the late Susan Koskela. He grew up in South Range and graduated from Jeffers High School with the class of 1986.
After high...
John C. Ritola
May 9, 2026
Atlantic Mine
John C. Ritola, 89, a resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Convalescent Home in Hubbell, where he had been a resident patient.
He was born on February 2, 1937, in Detroit, MI, a son of the late William and Florence (Kostamo) Ritola. John was raised in various parts of the Midwest...
William E. Forsman
May 9, 2026
Hancock, MIWilliam Edward (Bill) Forsman, age 90, a resident of Hancock, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026, at UP Health Systems - Portage in Hancock, where he had been a patient for the past four days.
Bill was born on August 24, 1935, on the family farm in Franklin Township to Hugo and Helmi (Koski) Forsman. He was a graduate of...
Elsie Irene Lauluma
May 4, 2026
Chassell
Elsie Irene (Tossava) Lauluma, 96, a longtime resident of Chassell, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at Portage Pointe in Hancock on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Elsie was born on March 22, 1930, a daughter of the late Edward and Martha Tossava, residing in Highway Location. She was a 1949 graduate of Hancock Central High School.
In her early twenties, Elsie...
Edward M. Burger
May 4, 2026
Edward Burger, a resident of Gay, Michigan, died on Monday, May 4, 2026, following a short illness.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Burger; his brother, Anthony Burger (Donna) of Solon Springs, Wisconsin; and his children: Andrea Gresser (Jack) of Eagan, Minnesota; Christopher Burger (Staci) of Hubbard Lake, Michigan; and Timothy Burger of Menifee, California.
Edward was a proud grandfather to...
Evelyn Vera Goke
May 3, 2026
Houghton
Evelyn V. Goke, 79, a resident of Houghton, died on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton following two years of significant health problems, including cancer and a stroke.
She was born on May 16, 1946, in Lancaster, WI, the daughter of the late Clark and Vera (Ramshaw) Williams. Evelyn was raised in Lancaster and was a graduate...
Mike Gilpin
Apr 24, 2026
Houghton
On Friday, April 24, Michael “Mike” Gilpin, 85. passed away at UP Health System-Marquette following a short illness. His wife was by his side.
A resident of Houghton since 1972, Mike worked as a math professor at Michigan Technological University from that year until his retirement in 2006.
Mike and his beloved wife Marlene “Tommy” (Thompson) met at Parsons College in Iowa...
Betty J Witt
Apr 24, 2026
Hancock
Betty J. Witt, a resident of Hancock, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Pewabic House of Portage Pointe in Hancock, where she had been a resident patient for the past two months.
Betty was born on February 8, 1933, in Dassell, MN to the late Albert and Jennie (Tormanen) Bollman. She was a graduate of Dassell High School with...
Alan Charles Heikkinen
Apr 23, 2026
Calumet
Alan Charles Heikkinen, a Dollar Bay graduate better known as Charlie, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Thursday, April 23, 2026. He was 80 years old, born on November 15, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hancock, Michigan, to Charles and Martha (Halkola) Heikkinen. It was the opening day of deer hunting season, so Dr. A.J. Janis had to...
Irene J. Byykkonen
Apr 21, 2026
Chassell
Irene J. Byykkonen passed away on April 21, 2026, at Canal View.
She was born November 8, 1940, to John and Julia (Tuomi) Honigisto.
Irene was a life long resident of Chassell, MI. She graduated from Chassell School and went on to graduate from Soumi College and became a Computer Programmer at Soumi College.
She was active in her community and a devoted...
Charmaine F Wiitala
Apr 20, 2026
Lansing
Charmaine Ann (Freeman) Wiitala, 92, a longtime Copper Country resident, currently
residing in Lansing, passed away after a short illness.
Charmaine was born on May 3, 1933, to Charles E. and Evelyn (Robinson) Freeman, in
Stambaugh, Michigan. She was primarily raised by her grandparents, Charles and Clara
Robinson, who managed different business interests, and grew up in Iron River,
Manistique, and Escanaba, while also spending...
Erland Edward Lahnala
Apr 19, 2026
Atlantic Mine
Erland E. Lahnala, 77, resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Convalescent Home in Hubbell, where he had been a resident patient.
As requested, a private graveside service in the Liminga Cemetery will take place later this spring.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family...
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