Marlis Runnberg

Marlis Mae Runnberg, 65, of Finland, died Aug. 12, 2010, at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.

She was born May 31, 1945, in Duluth to Edwin and Sophie (Kalander) Nikula.

She married Donald Runnberg in 1964, built a house on Lax Lake and lived there for the last 46 years.

Marlis graduated from William Kelley High School in Silver Bay in 1963. She worked as a secretary at Kelley for one year after graduation and then at the Silver Bay Bank (now Wells Fargo) for the next 20 years.

Along with being bookkeeper for the family business for 29 years, she worked 10 years at Split Rock Lighthouse as an interpreter and site technician. She retired in 1997 with a medical disability.

Though battling multiple sclerosis since 1984, she stayed active in the community. She served on boards and was a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Finland Historical Society. She also served on the board for the Lake County Historical Society, Lake County Citizens Advisory Board, Silver Bay Community Ed, and was facilitator for the North Shore MS Support Group.

Marlis had a passion for encouraging young people to continue their education. To further the cause she and her husband created an endowed scholarship at Lake Superior College for students with disabilities. Though a paraplegic since 2000, quad- riplegic since 2007, and without vision for the last few years, she always had a positive outlook and never complained.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Richard.

Marlis is survived by her husband Don; daughters Randi (Alex) Bildeaux of Scandia, Gina (Kenneth) Dufault of Kasson; grand- daughters Erikka Bildeaux and Marissa Dufault, and grandsons Ryan Bildeaux and Tanner Dufault. Also brothers Dale (Joretta) and Dean Nikula of Finland; sisters Delma (Don) Nyblom of Cottonwood, Ariz., Ginger (Paul Tolzman) of Brooklyn Park; sister-in-law Judy Nikula of Finland; sister and brother-in-law Dale and Mary Runnberg, of Lander, Wyo.; eight nephews and five nieces and their families.

A special thanks to Dr. Mollen and nurse Darlene of SMDC Hermantown for their 20-plus years of great care, and to the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and Solvay Hospice House.

Services were Tuesday. Sign the online guestbook at www.cavallinfuneral- home.com. Memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Finland Historical Society, or the scholarship at Lake Superior College.

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