Publish an obituary in Hometown Focus

WHAT IS PUBLISHED FOR FREE:

  • HTF will publish a full obituary and a photo (if desired) on our website free of charge.
  • HTF will publish an abbreviated obituary (no photos) in the print edition of the newspaper free of charge.

HOW TO PAY FOR A FULL OBITURARY:

  • A full obituary and a photo (if desired) published in the print edition of the newspaper is charged by the column inch.
  • Once HTF receives the obituary, photo and your request for a full obituary, we will provide you with the cost prior to publication.
  • Payment is due prior to publication and can be handled by phone if paying with a credit card.

The deadline for submission of the print edition obituaries (both full and abbreviated) is first thing Thursday morning, although sooner is always better.

Please email: editor@htfnews.us

Jack Robitaille



Jack Robitaille, 84, died October 17, 2015, in Las Vegas, NV.  He was born January 3, 1931, in Virginia, MN.  He is survived by his Wife: Pat; Son: Steve; Granddaughter: Christina; two Great-Grandchildren; and Brother: Allan Robitaille.

Harry T. Rinta



Harry T. Rinta, 79, of Virginia, MN, passed away Friday, October 23, 2015 at Essentia Health Virginia Care Center. Harry T. Rinta was born September 27, 1936 in Ely to Jacob and Suoma (Salmentausta) Rinta of Babbitt. He grew up on the family farm outside of Babbitt with his parents and six siblings. He began his 42 year career with […]

Roland “Dee” Lee Ballard



Roland “Dee” Lee Ballard, 66, of Gheen, MN, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at St Raphael’s Health & Rehabilitation Center in Eveleth, MN.  He was born on December 28, 1948 at Warsaw, NY, the son of Robert H. and Audrey (Hoffman) Ballard. He grew up in Warsaw.  Dee joined the Navy in 1971. After his honorable discharge he […]

Raymond “Ray” C. Johnson



Raymond “Ray” C. Johnson, 77, of Cook, MN, passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. He was born Raymond Clifford Johnson on July 19, 1938, in Virginia, MN, the son of Clifford and Sylvia (Alango) Johnson. He lived in Duluth for a short time and moved to Cook in 1945, where he […]

Larry Palmer Johnson



Larry Palmer Johnson, 65, Foley, MN formerly of Mt. Iron, MN, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2015, in Mt. Iron, with his daughter at his side. Larry, also known to his St. Cloud friends as “Lawrence” was diagnosed a month ago with advanced stage 4 colon cancer and had been living with his daughter since the diagnosis.  Larry […]

Katherine’s House

Safe harbor in a turbulent sea


EVELETH – Katherine’s House, a new licensed board and lodge facility specializing in supporting women who are in the recovery process for their mental health and/or chemical dependency struggles, opened its doors three months ago to great fanfare. This week I spoke with some young women who are, for now, calling Katherine’s House home. Erica Leppala and Tasha Mazzeo were […]

One woman’s PTSD story:

Trauma follows terroristic threat, assault


I recently met with a local woman and her husband to hear her story about being the victim of a crime, and the resulting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) she has suffered. With open hearts, they shared their life-changing experience, what they’ve learned, and their hopes for a symptomfree future. They requested their names not be used, so in this […]

10 tips for understanding someone with PTSD



#1 – Knowledge is power. Understanding the process of a triggering event, the psychic reaction to trauma, the warning signs and symptoms of PTSD, and available treatment options for PTSD allow you to help recognize, support and guide your PTSD loved one toward diagnosis, treatment and healing. We need you to be clearheaded, pulled together and informed. #2 – Trauma […]

About Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)



General overview of PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder that follows experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic, tragic, or terrifying event. People with PTSD usually have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. PTSD, once referred to as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue,” […]

Essentia awarded $700,000 as part of national research effort



Medical research leads to new drugs and treatments that save thousands of lives every day. But sometimes, that research can take 15 to 20 years before effective results are seen. Essentia Health recently received $700,000 to take part in a national research program designed to develop faster and more accurate research results. “Essentia Health was invited to join one of […]