Ronald J. Vuorinen, 47, of Houghton, died on April 23, 2000, in the Fairview Red Wing Hospital while on vacation. He was born on Sept. 20, 1952, in Hancock, to Aatto and Lempi (Viemero) Vuorinen. He married Karen Horsma in 1974. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Ronald W. (Angie) of Ishpeming, Chad of Ishpeming; a grandson, Chase; three brothers, Risto and Phebe of Dollar Bay, Reijo and Arlene of Milwaukee, and Urpo and Darlene of Negauneee.

Kenneth G. Summersett, 78, of Newberry, died on April 21, 2000. He was born March 9, 1922, in Marquette, to Frank and Ruth (Fairbanks) Summersett. He married Vivian Wampler in 1950, she passed away in 1980. He married Donna Gehrett in 1985. He was employed by the State of Michigan as Director of Social Services for the Newberry Regional Mental Health Center until his retirement in 1982. He is survived by his wife Donna; two sons, Kenneth and Susan of Grand Blanc, MI, and Dr Mark and Terry Sherman of Gulliver; a brother, Frank; a sister, Helen Allen, both of Marquette; and eight grandchildren.

Marie Limpi (Ollila) Maki, 88, of Mass City, died on April 22, 2000. She was born Nov. 9, 1911, in Rubican, daughter of Anton and Ida Kaurala. She was raised by her grandparents, William and Maria Arglander in the Simar-Wasas area of Mass City. She worked for many years in the housekeeping department of the Ontonagon Memorial Hospital. She married John Ollila, he died in 1974. In 1989, she married William Maki. Marie is survived by her husband Bill; and brothers, Emil Kaurala of Negaunee and Matt Kaurala of Hudsonville, MI.

Marjorie C. LaFernier, 82, of Baraga, died on April 20. She was bron on Jan. 27, 1918, in Skanee, a daughter of Leander and Edna (Aresault) Lunderberg. She was a lifetime resident of Baraga County and graduated in 1936 from L'anse High School. In 1941, she married Urha Patovisti, he died in 1966. She married Leslie LaFernier in 1969. He passed away in 1996. Surviving are two sons, James and Natalie Patovisti of Marquette and Glenn Patovisti of Marquette; three grandchildren, Collette Patovisiti of France, Nedine Christunas of Egan, MN, and Dana Rongistch of St. Paul, MN; three great grandchildren; sisters, Marian Erickson of Sknaee and Vivian Rohem of Ontonagon.

Ellen M. Ryynanen, 92, of Houghton, died on April 20, 2000. She was born in Centennial Heights on March 15, 1908, a daughter of Edward and Hilma (Rolig) Ryyanen. She was a teacher and also a summer Librarian at Michigan Technological University. She had set up the Finnish Archivist Library at Suomi College. She is survived by two sisters, Edna Ryynanen of Houghton, Katherine and Aulis Laakso of Houghton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Eddie E. Saari, 79, of Houghton, passed away on April 20th, as a result of a fire at his home. He was born on Jan. 24, 1921, in Ironwood, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Saari. He married Dorothy L. Snell in 1942. Eddie worked for several construction companies. Prior to his retirement he was employed at Gundlach Construction Company. He was a veteran of the US Navy, serving in WWII. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Houghton; three sons, Eddie M. and Cathy of Grand Rapids, Tom and Sandi of Petosky, Jim and Patti of Watertown, NY; two daughters, Jill and Jay Pollitt of Fort Collins, CO, and Sue Houlmont of Houghton; and nine grandchildren.

Dorothy H. King, 86, of Baraga, died on April 19, 2000. She was born on May 8, 1913, in Baraga, a daughter of Richard and Jennie (Ross) King. She married Ernie Heikkinen in 1932. He died in 1965. She married Richard King in 1968. Dorothy was owner/operator of the Drift Inn Bar in Baraga from 1968-1978. She is survived by her husband, Richard; two sisters, Anna marie Kangas and Agnes Johnson, both of L'Anse; and numerous nieces and nephews.

William Daniel Kenny, 68, of Escanaba, passed away on April 18, 2000. He was born in Lake Linden on June 22, 1931, the son of Herman and Grace (MacKenzie) Kenny. He was Captain of the Whiz Kids basketball team that won the 1949 Copper Country District Championship. He graduated from Michigan Tech in 1953 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He is survived by a son, Andrew of College Station, TX; a daughter, Fiona of Pittsburgh; two brothers, David of Houghton and John of Hancock.

Erma A. Erickson, 84, of Greenland, died on April 19, 2000, at Maple Manor Nursing Home. She was born in Hurontown on March 31, 1916, daughter of Emil and Hannah Maki. She married Evert Erickson in 1938. Surviving are three sons, Kenneth and Dorothy of Escanaba, Ronald of Greenland, Robert and Dorothy of Fargo, N.D.; two daughters, Joanne and Verne Buehler of Hartland, MI and Jill and Kevin Burke of Greenland; nine granddaughters; four grandsons; and nine great grandchildren; a brother, Eino and Helen Maki of Neshkoro, WI; and a sister, Lorraine Kuhl of Rockford, IL.

William Lindgren, 87, of Lake Linden, Gay, died on April 12, 2000. He was born Sept. 25, 1912, in Calumet, a son of Isaac and Sophia (Risku) Lindgren. He is survived by a sister, Linda Heikkinen of Charlotte, NC; a sister-in-law, Bertha Lindgren of Hubbell and five nieces and nephews.

Ronald J. Pelland, 56, of Hancock, died on April 17, 2000. He was born in Lake Linden on February 14, 1944, a son of Russell and evelyn (Mahafey) Pelland. He is survived by a brother Dale and Annette of Nashville, TN; a sister, Delores and John Makela of Liminga; a step-brother, Gordon and Sharon Congdon of Dollar Bay; a step-sister, Barbara and Cleit Trucott of Detroit; a half-brother, david and Sheila Pelland of Green Bush, MI; a half sister, Patricia and Del Murphy of Oscoda, MI and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Irene Grace Maria Kupari, 53, of Lower Pewabic, died on April 17, 2000. She was born on Jan. 28, 1947, in Lower Pewabic, a daughter of Henry and Lydia Kupari. She is survived by two brothers, John and Dorothy Kupari of Calumet and Robert and Lucille Kupari of Sheridan, MI; three sisters, Dorothy and Bernard Westerberg of Hubbell, Gloria and Henry Hill of Calumet, and Nancy Kupari of Hubbell; an aunt, Irene Johnson of Green, MI.

Lillian I. Maki, 91, of Franklin Mine, died on April 16, 2000. She was born on April 28, 1908, in Hancock, the daughter of Fred and Katherine (Vierimaa) Raty. She is survived by two grandchildren, roger Hyttinen of Milwaukee, WI and Mary Ellen Hyytinen of Dodgeville; and a sister, Linda Sauvola of Chassell.

Allen C. Gregorich, 55,of Calumet, died on April 17, 2000. He was born on Oct. 29, 1944, in Calumet, a son of Dragatine Gregorich and Dorothy Gregorich Granville. He married Virginia Piipo in 1966. She died in February of 1972. He later married Jeanne Congdon in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; three sons, Carl and Sandra of Livonia, MI, William Locatelli and Christopher and Christina; three daughters, Lori Karnopp of Ypsilanti, MI, Elizabeth and Roger Somero and Jennifer Locatelli; his father; and four grandchildren.

Albert P. Ruotsala, 73, of Escanaba, died on April 13, 2000. He was born Sept. 16, 1926 in Ely, MN, the osn of Peter and Hulda (Nieminen) Ruotsala. He was a geologist for Northwestern Railroad, a professor at Texas Tech, Northern Illinois University, and Michigan Tech University. Mr. Ruotsala is survived by his wife Elvi; four sons, James and Birgit of Escanaba, Charles and Paula of Sault Ste Marie, Erick and Laura of Green Bay, WI and mark and Tonya of Sault Ste Marie; grandchildren, great grandchildren; a sister, Edna and Robert Nissila of Brooklyn New York.

Emma Sandretto, 85, of Kearsarge, died on April 7, 2000. She was born on Sept. 7, 1914, in Laurium, the daughter of Peter and Gilia (Masnado) Locatelli. She married Louis Sandretto in 1937. Louis died in 1988. Surviving are one son, Carmen of Vienna, VA; two daughters, Andrea Lane of Ogden, UT and Pamela Shaughnessy of DeWitt, MI; two grandchildren, Tim and Brent Shaughnessy.

Lyla Johnson, 87, of Howell, died on April 10th. Lyla was born in Calumet on Sept. 30, 1912. She is survived by two sisters, Eunice Cargo of Brighton, MI and Helen Mihelich of Tehachapi, CA.

George R. Pini, 89, of Hubbell, passed away on April 10, 2000. He was born in Tamarack City on October 24, 1910, a son of Eugene and Louise (Consoni) Pini. On July 1, 1937, he married Ellen Kotajarvi in Hubbell. George had been employed by Calumet and Hecla in the Ahmeek Mill and the Round House as a diesel mechanic. He served on the Houghton County Board of Commissioners for 18 years and was chairman of the board for many years. Surviving are his wife; a son, George and Carol of St. Francis, WI; two daughters, Sharon and Ronald Rheault of Bootjack and Theresa and Bob Barnes of Montrose, CO; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Helene C. Welsh, 92, of L'Anse, died on April 8th. She was born in L'Anse on May 7, 1907, the daughter of Charles and Catherine (St. Jacques) Picard. She graduated from the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Hancock and was employed by the Baraga County Memorial Hospital until her retirement. She married Herbert H. Welsh, Sr. in South Dakota. He died in 1973. She is survived by sons; James of L'Anse and Douglas of Baraga; daughters; Mary Wilson of Mauston, WI, Margaret LaTocha of Eagle River, AK, Judith Smith of L'Anse and Aleta (Alexie) Jimmie of Toksok Bay, AK; 26 grandchildren; and 25 great grandchildren; a brother, Louis Picard of L'Anse; sisters: Franchon Boyette of Milwaukee, WI, and Lorraine and Richard Francis of L'Anse.

Arthur J. Lamoureux, 78, of Rabbit Bay, died on April 8, 2000. He was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba on June 18, 1921. He served in the South Pacific during WWII in the US Army. Mr. Lamoureux worked in finance prior to founding the Auto City Auto Auction in 1956. He married Allie Nurmi in 1949. He is survived by his wife; a son, Paul and Susan of Northville, MI; a daughter, Theresa and Michael Thompson of Calumet; grandchildren, Andrew, Heather and Jade; a sister, Edmee Peat of Detroit; and a niece, Claudia Tobacco of Detroit.

Yalmer W. Mattila, 79, of Toivola, died on April 8th. He was born on February 16, 1921, in Toivola, a son of Samuel and Laura (Johnson) Mattila. In 1942 he married Pearl E. Niemi. In 1952, he started Mattila Construction Company in Houghton where he served as owner and president until his retirement in 1993. Yalmer is survived by his wife; seven brothers, James, Sr. and Bertha of Tapiola, Alvin and Lydia of Idaho, Earl and Melanie of Trimountain, Wesley and Bea of Sussex, WI, Sanford and Pat of South Range, Gordon and Marjorie of South Range, Leo and Marian of Toivola, four sisters, Bertha Kangas, Beatrice mattila and Carol and Bob Deede, all of Sussex, WI, and Laura Moseley of Alabama. Burial in the Toivola Cemetery.

John "Jack" Poshak, 75, of Laurium, died on April 7th. He was born on March 6, 1925, in Ahmeek, a son of Matt and Modesta Poshak. He served overseas with the United States Navy during WWII. He was employed as a mechanic with Calumet and Hecla Mining Compnay until the closing of the mines in 1968. He later was employed with the Houghton County Road Commission until his retirement. He married Teresa Guibord in 1946. Surviving are his wife; a son, don of Kearsarge; two grandsons, Craig of Laurium and Brian of Muskegon; a great grandson, Bryce of Muskegon; a brother, Edward of Gaylord; and three sisters-in-law.

Eino N. Simonson,76, of Chassell, died on April 5, 2000. He was born Nov. 6, 1923, in Hancock, a son of August and Sandra (Wilen) Simonson. He had worked for Komulas, Thornton Construction Company and for OK Auto Parts, INc. In 1945, he married Eva Simula. Eino was a veteran of WWII having served in the US Navy. Surviving are his wife; three daughters, Kay and Rob Peterson of Chassell, Corinne and Lyle Abernathy of Yacolt, WA, Joy and Bruce Homola of Gilbert, MN; seven sons, Keigh and Inger of Battle Ground, WA, Randy and Joyce of Duluth, Sidney and Evie of Duluth, Greg and Monica of Kalispell, MT, Marshal and Dorothy of Sheridan, WY, Ross and Lana of Yacolt, WA, Hugh and Jill of Yacolt; 64 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles and Lillian of Hancock; three sisters, Effie Hallstrom of Chatham, Anna Aili of Duluth, MN, Lempi Hanson of Kalispell, MT.

Ebba M. Mitchell, 84, of Baraga died on April 5, 2000. She was born March 5, 1916, in Skanee, a daughter of Ernest and Theresa (Sandberg) Fredrickson. She married Robert Mitchell in 1933, he died in 1986. Ebba was an accomplished seamstress and upholsterer. She is survived by a son, Dale Mitchell and Ann Marie of Memphis, TN; two daughters, Betty and Paul Timmermann of Grand Rapids and Shirley and Bob Williams of Dearborn and Baraga; two brothers, Harry Fredrickson of Escanaba and Morgan Fredrickson of Skanee; three sisters, Mabel Anderson of L'Anse, Ruth and Walter Johnson fo Baraga and Esther and Elmer Lind of Chicago; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

Jeanette Helen Jestila, 52, of Ishpeming, died on April 5, 2000. She was born April 22, 1947, in Hancock, to Anne (Tahtinen) and Onnie Pasanen. Ahe married Paul Jestila in 1967. Jeanette worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Mather Nursing Home for the past 15 years. She is survived by her husband; her mother and step father of Baraga; four children, Ginger (Joe) Fulkerson of Colchester, CN, Jeffrey of Marquette, Lori of Marquette and Kristi (Robert) Fansler of Allendale, MI; a brother, Ronald and Darlene Pasonen of Albuquerque, NM; and a granddaughter, Brianna Fulkerson.

Charles E. Kinnunen, 74, a former resident of Painesdale, died on April 6, 2000, at the D.J. Jacobetti Center in Marquette. He was born Dec. 30, 1925, in Baltic, a son of Charles and Ida Mathilda (Pusa) Kinnunen. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving during WWII. Charles is survived by a sister, Irene Moore of Lincoln Park, MI, a nephew, two nieces, and several cousins.

Arthur L. Kolehmainen, 83, of Chassell, died on April 5, 2000. He was born on May 5, 1916, in Klingville, a son of Gabriel and Anna (Timmonen) Kolehmainen. Art worked as a commercial fisherman for most of his life. He was a veteran serving in WWII with the 307th Airborne Medical Co. 82 Ariborne (Glider) Division, US Army. He married Louise Kokko in 1943. Louise died in 1996. Art is survived by a son, Arthur N. of Portage Entry, and a sister; Martha Wiinikka of Vancouver, WA.

May I. Turja, 93, of Hancock died on April 3, 2000. She was born on April 8, 1906, in Hancock, a daughter of Walter and Emma (Huhtasaari) Gustafson. She married Charles Turja and he died in 1971. She is survived by two granddaughters, Kathleen and Michael Ryan of King George, VA, and Barbara Scott of Grand Rapids; a sister, Milly and Weldon Gagnon of Hubbell; and a nephew, John and Marilyn Gagnon of Lake Linden.

Vasu Kulkami, 49, of Houghton, died on April 4, 2000, following a heart attack. Vasu is survived by her husband, Anand, a professor of Electrical Engineering at MTU; a son, Deepak; her mother, and three brothers.

Marion Lanctot, 82, of Hubbell, died on April 4, 2000. She was born in Lake Linden, Dec. 24, 1917, a daughter of Charles and Clara (Lewis) Hanner. She was a graduate of the Del Mar Beauty Culture Schoole in Detroit. Marion had owned and operated the former Pink Cloud Beauty Shop in Hancock. She married Grover "Bud" Lanctot in 1937. Bud died in 1998. Surviving aare a son, Charles, of Ishpeming; a daughter, Kathe and Jack Dugdale of Hubbell; two grandsons; one great granddaughter; one niece; one nephew; and several cousins.

Mary Amanda Olson, 96, of Calumet, formerly of Big Traverse, died on April 2, 2000. She was bron on Jan. 9, 1904, in Pudasjarvi, Finland, a daughter of August and Aina (Wickstrom) Eskola. She immigrated to America on June 23, 1905. She married Edward A. Olson in 1948. Edward died in 1975. She is survived by a brother, Arthur and Ethel Eskola of St. Mary's Location; and a sister-in-law, Elsie Eskola of the Apostolic Lutheran Home for the aged in Calumet.