The Ely Miner, July 8, 1943
DEATH TAKES MRS. SCHAEFER – Wife of Ely Minor Editor Dies Monday Evening; Funeral This Afternoon
Mrs. Peter Schaefer, better half of the editor of The Ely Miner for the past 52 years, passed away Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock following an intermittent illness of over two years duration. Heart failure was given as the cause of death.
Mrs. Schaefer was born Lillian Maud Childers at Galena, Ill., on October 21, 1870. When still a very young girl her parents and the family went to Norway, Mich., and from there came to Soudan in 1884. They travelled by boat to Two Harbors and from there to Soudan over the Duluth and Iron Range Railway in a box car with seats along the sides, with several other women and children to join husbands who had preceeded them.
She was married to Peter Schaefer at Soudan on November 26, 1890, and came to Ely, where Mr. Schaefer was employed, in the spring of 1891. After a residence of two years in this city, Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer and a son born in November, 1891, returned to Tower, where they remained until 1895. They came back to Ely and established the Ely Miner, now in its 50th year.
She was very prominent in social and fraternal circles, having been president of the local unit of the American Legion Auxillary and for a year was president of the eighth district auxillary.
Mrs. Schaefer was a member of the St. Louis county child welfare board for several years. She was past state officer of the Eastern Stars and was a charter member of the Ely chapter where she held the position of worthy matron. She also was a past president of the Rebekah order, and took an active part in the ladies' aid society of the Presbyterian church, the American Red Cross and several other welfare organizations of the city.
Surviving are the husband, three sons, LeRoy of Glenwood, Minn., Alvin C. of Duluth, and Stuart of this city, and one daughter, Mrs. William Wenstrum of this city. Three grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. James Hodgon of this city and Mrs. R.J. Whiteside of Duluth, and two brothers, David of this city and Fred, who is now in Alaska, also survive.
The funeral will take place this afternoon from the Laing mortuary and the Presbyterian church at 2 o'clock. The Rev. H. Russell Browne will officiate and burial will be in the Ely cemetery. Mel Odgers, Jack Seraphine, William Olds, William Jeffery, Arthur O. Knutson and E.A. LaBeau will be the pall bearers.