Mary Elaine Erchul

Funeral service for Mary Elaine Erchul, 86, of McKinley, will be 11am Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Fr. Steven Daigle officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at a later date in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Elaine died Monday, June 27, 2016 at St. Michael’s Health and Rehab in Virginia, MN. Mary Elaine was born August 15, 1929 in Eveleth, Minnesota to Myles and Florence (Gardiepy) Furlong. Following her father’s death, the family moved to Hibbing and later to Tacoma, Washington where she graduated from Lincoln High School. Following her graduation she worked there a short time prior to returning to Minnesota. On October 14, 1950 she married Frank Erchul in Biwabik. Elaine worked as a seamstress at the Cluett Peabody Shirt Factories in Gilbert and Virginia. In the 1970’s she was one of the first women hired as a laborer in the mines working for J&L Mining Company. Following the lay-off, she returned to school and received her secretarial certificate. She worked as a secretary for Minnesota Power and Light and was employed by the City of McKinley for many years. Elaine was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Biwabik and its Council of Catholic Women. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and painting on fabric. She had a love for all animals, especially dogs. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Frank; children: Rene (Richard) Lind of Virginia, Gary (Robin) Erchul of McKinley and Dawn (Arthur) Iverson of Robbinsdale; grandchildren: Shari (Butch Carlson) Erchul of Gilbert, Amber (Robert) Prout of Midway and Ariel (Joe Meskill) Iverson of Menomonie, WI; seven great grandchildren: Abbie, Kayin, Cecilia, Noah, Gabriel, Micah and Isabella; brother, Richard Furlong of Auburn, California and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marguerite Attebery.