Nicholas Riley

Memorial mass for Nicholas Emmett Riley, 97, of Biwabik will be 11:30 am Friday, March 3, 2017 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Biwabik with Fr. Peter Lambert celebrating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. Inurnment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik at a later date. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Nicholas died Monday, February 20, 2017 at Essentia Health-Virginia. He was born on December 7, 1919 to Nicholas and Mary (Glasser) Riley in Biwabik. He grew up and attended school in Biwabik, graduating from Biwabik High School. He continued his education at Virginia Junior College. Nicholas entered the Army Air Force serving during WWII. Nicholas had several jobs including Erie Mining, Hibbing Taconite, and Woodline. He had also worked as a hospital administrator at the White Community Hospital in Aurora and a nursing home in Illinois. Nicholas owned and operated several businesses including Riley’s Variety Store, Nick’s Nip Nook, and the Boom Boom Room in Biwabik. He was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Biwabik. He will be remembered for his love of his family and church. Survivors include his children: Bernadette (John) Andreachi, Nick (Jill) Riley, and Larry (Mary) Riley; stepchildren: Steve and Julie Anderson; grandchildren: Ben (Becky) Andreachi, Chris (Jennifer) Andreachi, Abby Riley, McKensie Riley, Logan Riley, Jason (Erin) Riley, and Sarah (Matt) Pyhala; great-grandchildren: Tim, Jacob, Nicholas, Matilda, Beatrice, Moira, and Tabor; one sister: Colleen Klessig. He was preceded in death by eight siblings and his parents.