Obituaries

Ann Marie Elliott

Ann Marie Elliott

Jan 13, 2026

Arlington, TX

Ann Marie “Soumis” Elliott, 73, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, surrounded by love and the legacy of her family.

Born to Walter and Virginia Soumis, Ann was raised in Chassell and spent most of her life in the Arlington TX, area.

Ann’s family will gather later this year to privately lay her to rest next to her parents in...

Helen Knuuti

Helen Knuuti

Dec 16, 2025

Dodgeville, MIHelen (Riutta) Knuuti passed away on December 16, 2025, while being lovingly cared for by family.Born November 13, 1936, in Hancock, Michigan, Helen spent her childhood years living in Hancock with her parents, older brothers, and her younger sister Gert, eventually moving to the “Riutta” farm.She married Wilho Knuuti in 1957 and had three children, Donald, Linda, and Jane.Wilho’s...

Barbara M Mattila

Barbara M Mattila

Feb 26, 2026

Suo District

Barbara M. Mattila, 82, a resident of the Suo District, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Canal View -- Houghton County, following a short illness surrounded by her family.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements, which will be announced at a later time.

Raymond Bosley

Raymond Bosley

Feb 25, 2026

Painesdale

Raymond Bosley, Sr., a resident of Painesdale, passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 

Ray was born on February 3, 1936 in Sault Sainte Marie Michigan, to Carl and Elizabeth (Oberlin) Bosley. He had five brothers and one sister. He was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. While growing up in the Sault, Ray enjoyed music and...

Arthur Valentine Parzych

Arthur Valentine Parzych

Feb 24, 2026

Elo

Arthur “Art” Valentine Parzych of Elo, MI went to be with his Lord and Savior on the evening

of February 24, 2026. Art entered eternal life in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection,

held in the same grace that sustained him throughout his earthly journey.

Born on December 15, 1946, in Monroe, MI to the late Andrew and Irene Parzych, Art...

Marsha A Paduan

Marsha A Paduan

Feb 16, 2026

Houghton

Marsha Ann “Kitty” Paduan (née Young) passed away peacefully on Monday, February 16, at Omega House, surrounded by love and comfort. Having entered Omega House for hospice care on her 82nd birthday, she found strength and peace in her faith, reading Psalm 23 each day. She now rests with her Lord and Savior.

Born January 19, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey,...

Patrick J Cornish

Patrick J Cornish

Feb 15, 2026

Calumet

Patrick J. Cornish, 94, a resident of Calumet and former Houghton resident, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Gardenview Assisted Living in Calumet with his family by his side.

Patrick was born on January 24, 1932, in Troy, MI, a son of the late Edward and Genevieve (Tapio) Cornish. He was raised in Troy and was a graduate of...

Robert J. Backon

Robert J. Backon

Feb 15, 2026

Houghton

Robert (Bob, Bobby B, Mr. B, Scoop) Backon was born in Highland Park, Michigan on January 18, 1943 and passed away on February 15, 2026, at The Omega House in Houghton.

Bob grew up in Ironwood, Michigan and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and a master’s...

Douglas Allan Strauch

Douglas Allan Strauch

Feb 14, 2026

Atlantic Mine

Douglas A. Strauch, 93, a resident of Atlantic Mine, passed awaySaturday, February 14, 2026, at his daughter's home in Hancockfollowing a lengthy illness.He was born on June 22, 1932, in Carter, WI, a son of the late Henryand Martha (Harris) Strauch. Doug was raised in Carter, WI, andresided in Milwaukee, WI, before moving to make his home in AtlanticMine....

Gloria L Riutta

Gloria L Riutta

Feb 12, 2026

Chassell

Gloria L. Riutta, 91, a former resident of Chassell, passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Medora House of Portage Pointe in Hancock, where she had been a resident patient for the past two years.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service is assisting the family with a private service at a later date.

Irene J. Hendrickson

Irene J. Hendrickson

Feb 11, 2026

Hancock

Irene J. Hendrickson, a resident of Hancock, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. She was born April 7, 1937, the daughter of Alfred and Flora (Ruonavaara) Hendrickson. She was a lifetime member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. She attended the Hancock Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1955. She was employed at the Tervo Insurance Agency.

Preceding...

Barbara Ann Hiltunen

Barbara Ann Hiltunen

Feb 10, 2026

Southfield, MIAfter a courageous 5-month battle with small-cell lung cancer, BobbieAnn (Romano) Hilitunen, died Tuesday, February 10th, at her home inSouthfield, MI with her family by her side.Bobbie Ann was born on December 2, 1937, in Trimountain, Michigan, toJoseph and Antoniette (Stimac) Romano. She grew up in South Range,living with her parents, brother, sisters and grandmother above theCozy Corner Bar,...

Larry E. Parolini

Larry E. Parolini

Feb 10, 2026

Chassell

Larry Edward Parolini, 76, of Suo District, Houghton, MI, died February 10, 2026, after a fall at his home at Onkalo's Corners on the Chassell/Painesdale Road. Larry was born December 26,1949, in Detroit, MI, to Edward J. Parolini and Helen V. (Martilla) Parolini. When he was seven-years old, the family moved north to Baltic, MI, where he was raised. He...

Melvyn A. Lyttinen

Melvyn A. Lyttinen

Feb 9, 2026

Tapiola

Melvyn "Rowdy" Lyttinen, 89, of Tapiola, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2026, at Baraga Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 3, 1936, in Baltic, Michigan, to Sylvia (Wimpari) and Abram Lyttinen.

Melvyn grew up in Houghton County and graduated from the John A. Doelle School in Tapiola in 1954.

On March 14, 1970, He married Angeline Colombe, to whom...

Howard F Lister

Howard F Lister

Feb 8, 2026

Tapiola

Howard F. Lister, 79, a resident of Tapiola, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at his home with his family by his side.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Mt. View Chapel of South Range is assisting the family with the arrangements, which will be announced at a later time. 

Thomas Neil Stimac

Thomas Neil Stimac

Feb 8, 2026

Houghton

Thomas Neil Stimac, 77, of Trimountain, more recently of Houghton, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026, after a short battle with MDS. Tom was born on October 21, 1948, in Hancock to Peter and Arlene Stimac, grew up in Trimountain and was a 1966 graduate of Jeffers High School.

In 1968, Tom joined the US Army, serving in the central...

Debra Ann Kangas

Debra Ann Kangas

Feb 7, 2026

Baltic

Debra A. (Jay Spiegel) Kangas, 71, a resident of Baltic, passed away Saturday, February 7, 2026, at her home.

She was born in Hancock, MI, on June 8, 1954, a daughter of the late Robert and Elaine (Patana) Kangas. Debra was raised in Baltic and was a graduate of the Jeffer’s High School with the class of 1974.

Debra lived with her...

Sandra Elaine Raasio

Sandra Elaine Raasio

Feb 5, 2026

Hancock 

Sandra (Clyde) Raasio, 83, a resident of Frenchtown, passed away at home on Thursday, February 5, 2026, surrounded by her family. 

She was born in 1942, in Flint, MI, a daughter of the late George and Margaret (King) Bearup. Sandra was raised in Flint and was a graduate of Flint Northern High School. Following high school, she worked as a secretary...

Amanda Jean Beneteau

Amanda Jean Beneteau

Jan 31, 2026

Phoenix, AZ

Amanda Jean (Dow) Beneteau, 44, passed away peacefully after a short illness on January 31, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. She was born on January 30, 1982, to David and Deborah (Nicholls) Dow.

Amanda was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose kindness and compassion touched countless lives. She was the loving mother of her son, Caden,...

Mary Ellen Campo

Mary Ellen Campo

Jan 31, 2026

HancockMary Ellen Lucchesi was born in Hancock, Michigan, at 2:15 am on June 21st, 1946, to Bruno and Elsie Lucchesi. She would be the second-oldest child of 6 children and the oldest girl of the family. She came with a big, friendly smile, an affable personality, and a love of a challenge. 

She attended Hancock High School and Michigan Tech. Mary...