Through conversations with family members and close friends, Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer remembers the lives of Minnesotans who have touched their communities in ways big and small.
PattiRai Rudolph died recently at the age of 63. PattiRai or "P-Rai," as she was called, worked at a lot of different stations doing a lot of different things from dispatching news crews at KSTP-TV to spinning records in Hibbing to doing the news at MPR.
Charles "Patrick" Cadigan passed away recently at the age of 81. He and co-host Rik Jordan talked about anything that was "TOMA" or "top-of-mind awareness" in the Duluth-Superior area.
It's rare when someone can truly be called a pioneer, but Koryne Horbal was certainly that.
MPR's voice of documentaries, Mark Heistad, died last week from esophageal cancer.
Dr. Olaf Millert came to the United States after fleeing his native Estonia during the Soviet occupation following World War II. After studying in South Dakota, he went to found the psychology department at St. Olaf College.
Elsye McGuire's early life reads like "Little House on the Prairie" -- if it were written for adults, and Pa ran an illegal moonshine still in the swamp behind his house.
Dr. Robert Kane devoted his life to improving how people live as they get older. He was especially concerned with those needing long-term care.
Despite being forced into an internment camp during World War II, Helen Tsuchiya never harbored anger or ill-will. Instead, she practiced understanding and compassion.
Amy Tobin's musical career took her to Miami and Jamaica, where she played reggae with the likes of Ziggy Marley. She served as concertmaster of the St. Paul Civic Symphony from 2008 until her death in January.
Former MPR Commentator Peter Smith had a passion--and a knack--for writing about the little things in life. He passed away on December 31.
Diane Witherspoon of Minneapolis passed away last month after a long career as a jazz singer. She was first inspired by her sister, Shirley Witherspoon, a renowned jazz musician who sang with the likes of Duke Ellington.
Terry Berg is remembered for her incredible energy and warmth, and for her long career helping young people with special needs. She passed away earlier this month after fighting breast cancer for 24 years.
Mildred "Millie" DeZiel had big eyes, a wide smile and brilliant red hair. A native of northeast Minneapolis, she died on November 23, 2016. She was 90 years old. Her daughter, Paula, shares some stories from her mother's life.