Linda Tyssen, Mesabi Tribune Journalist Profile

Articles

Sheldon Anderson drumming 70 years, from ages 15 to 85

5 days ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

VIRGINIA—Sheldon Anderson was 15 when his passion for drums began. Fast forward seven decades, and at 85, Anderson is still drumming. He said in an interview, “Don Luke gave me the drum sticks and I went to his house and got a couple lessons.”kAmp?56CD@?[ 2E `f[ ;@:?65 E96 pC>J :? `hdg] “x H2D :? u=@C:52 2?5 %6I2D 2?5 t=G:D !C6D=6J H2D E96C6 E96 D2>6 E:>6 x H2D E96C6] p?5 96 3@F89E FD 8FJD 6249 2 A:E496C @7 366C]”k^AmkAmw6 D2:5[ “(96?
Niemiste sister shares photos of beloved brother

5 days ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

On my computer desktop, I have a folder titled “Carol and Bud.” These are two of my cousins from Willard’s gang, as we referred to the six children of Willard and Edith Niemiste. Buddy and Carol were born a year apart, Carol (Niemiste) Saari on December 28, 1941, and her brother Willard Jr. “Bud” Niemiste on December 29, 1940. kAmqF5 2?5 r2C@= H6C6 E96 @=56DE @7 E96 (:==2C5’D 82?8[ E96 @E96CD 36:?8 }2?4J[ q:==J[ !2F=6EE6 “!@==J[” 2?5 tG6=J? “tG:6]”k^AmkAm%H@ @7 E96 }:6>:DE6 49:=5C6? 5:65 H:E9:?
Our Lady of Hope parish announces the ‘resurrection’ of the salad luncheon

1 week ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

AURORA—Shelley Berts, co-chairwoman with Pat Hakala of the Our Lady of Hope spring salad luncheon, said in an email: “We are looking forward to a beautiful spring day, whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, and filling our church hall with hungry people ready to enjoy the fellowship of this community event.” It’s the first time such an event has taken place since three East Range Catholic churches consolidated to form Our Lady of Hope parish—Holy Rosary in Aurora, St. John’s in Biwabik...
A rainy April day brings thoughts of Zippy the Dog

1 week ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

On a recent rainy day, I got to reminiscing about Zippy the Dog. She has been gone nearly 20 years, laid to rest on a sunny July day in 2006 at the old home place in Lakeland. She had lived to be about 14, a good long life for a larger dog such as Zippy was. This is a column written a number of years ago. kAm+:AAJ H2D 92=7 3=24< {23C25@C 2?5 92=7 32DD6E 9@F?5[ 2?
CHAIR grand opening on Friday

2 weeks ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

VIRGINIA—CHAIR, formerly the Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance/Lyric Center for the Arts, at 510 Chestnut Street is celebrating its grand opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 2. CHAIR is the acronym for Cultures, Humanities, and Arts on the Iron Range. “We are Iron Range, through and through,” Paul M. Gregersen, CHAIR Executive Director, said in a news release. kAm%96 6G6?E 762EFC6D 2? 2CE:DE @A6? 9@FD6 7@C E96 ~A6? (2E6C 6I9:3:E[ C:33@? 4FEE:?8 2E eib_ A]>][ A6C7@C>2?46 3J >6>36CD @7 rwpx#’D AC@5F4E:@?
Angel of Hope memorial tile orders are now being taken

2 weeks ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

VIRGINIA—Cheryl Weappa sent an email message entitled “Making a Memory for Our Children,” referring to the Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial Park located on the south shore of Silver Lake in Virginia. Orders for memorial tiles are being taken until May 15 for installation later this year. Orders received after May 15 will be installed in 2026. Weappa said, “Thank you for supporting the Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial Park.” Contact Weappa at 218-749-5642. kAm%96 >6>@C:2= E:=6D H:== 36 A=2465 @?
Keewatin soldier leaves legacy of the Old Guard

2 weeks ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

On April 22, I received an email message from Diane Boback from Aurora. “In today’s Mesabi Tribune, there’s an obituary for Michael F. Johnson. I do not know him, but upon reading it, I was impressed with his Army duties. He was a member of the Old Guard in Washington D.C. What an honor. I have read about this branch of the Army and it is impressive. Mr. Johnson, from the west end of the Iron Range, was a part of this group. What an honor for him, for his family and for our part of Northern Minnesota.
Remembering Nancy Delak Durkos

3 weeks ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

The obituary from Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd was brief. Nancy L. Durkos, age 76, passed away January 26, 2025, at Essentia-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd. kAmk6>m%96C6 H:== 36 ?@ D6CG:46D]k^6>mk^AmkAm&A@? =62C?:?8 @7 96C 562E9[ x E9@F89E @7 E96 E6=6A9@?6 4@?G6CD2E:@? x 925 925 H:E9 q:H23:< ?2E:G6 }2?4J s6=2< sFC<@D 2E E96 6?5 @7 }@G6>36C]k^AmkAm}2?4J’D 3C@E96C s:4< s6=2< 925 366? <:==65 :?
AN EASTER MIRACLE

3 weeks ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

HIBBING—Don and Becky Simpson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in February—thanks to a Hibbing nurse, Jessica LaBarge, and her young son Tyson, who saved Don Simpson’s life a few days before Easter in 2020. Becky Simpson’s sister, Mary James, called it an Easter miracle. Don Simpson is 90 and Becky Simpson 85, and they married at 20 and 15. They have three children, Tim Simpson, Sunny Simpson and Shelley Kehoe, 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
A day to honor, thank Vietnam Veterans

1 month ago | mesabitribune.com | Linda Tyssen

GILBERT—Dr. James “Jim” Tuorila, retired from the St. Cloud VA Medical Center in St. Cloud and retired faculty member from St. Cloud State University, was guest speaker at the recent Vietnam War Veterans Day observance at the Gilbert VFW. He will again be guest speaker at the 2026 event Sunday, March 29, the date of the annual Vietnam War Veterans Day nationwide. kAmp ?2E:G6 @7 r2=F>6E 2?5 8C25F2E6 @7 vC66?H2J w:89 $49@@= :?