Elizabeth "Liz" Lenich

Elizabeth 'Liz' (Hartley) Lenich

Elizabeth Lenich died the morning of May 12, 2025 at Essentia Health-Virginia after a valiant decades-long battle with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Liz was born at the Virginia Hospital on April 6, 1952 to Janice (Hartley) Hartley and David Hartley, when her parents lived in Sundquist Apartments on Northside in Virginia until they built their new home on Morningside's Norman Avenue in Eveleth in 1952-53.

Elizabeth attended Franklin Elementary and Junior High Schools in Eveleth, then spent her sophomore and junior years at Saint Mary's Hall in Faribault. She returned to Eveleth for her senior year and graduated from Eveleth High School in 1970. She enrolled in the University of Minnesota-Duluth that fall where she met her lifelong friend, Marcia (Pauchnik) Motley. She graduated with a degree in English four years later.

She met her husband Michael Anthony Lenich in 1972 when she was a guest at Marge & Rudy Lenich's home on Cleveland Street for their traditional Easter feast. They were married on June 29, 1974 at Resurrection Church. They lived in an upstairs apartment in Joe Skrinner's building on Grant Avenue for a couple years, then moved into the Hartley family home on Norman Avenue in 1976, raising Charles and Carolyn and living there until 2019 when Liz and Mike moved into their apartment at Lincoln Place.

Elizabeth worked as a Candy Striper at the Eveleth Nursing Home, a lifeguard at the Ely Lake beach, taught English in Virginia Schools, tended bar at Joe's Sportsman Bar, and was an active EMT and Fire Fighter for the City of Eveleth for many years. She was a member of the Fayal Garden Club and lifelong member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Eveleth (now St. John and Paul in Virginia) and routinely volunteered at any and all events at Giants Ridge. As a troop leader, she adored her Girl Scouts.

As a young adult, Liz loved snowmobiling, and was always a passionate berry picker. She was a devoted Minnesota Twins fan in addition to all Eveleth Golden Bears teams. She enjoyed travel and made a family tradition of their annual trip up the North Shore every autumn. She reveled in holidays and all the associated decor, wardrobe, jewelry, and gift-giving and receiving.

She had an indomitable spirit, and was a generous, fiercely faithful friend; at her best when others' chips were down and they were in need, sorrow, or ill health.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her father, parents-in-law, Marge and Rudy Lenich; brother-in-law, Bruce Anderson; and niece, Jessica Lenich.

She is survived by her mother, Janny; step-mother, Carmen Hartley; husband, Mike; son, Charles (Jessica Wilson); daughter, Carolyn (Matt) Salter; grandchildren, Sophie Lenich, Evelyn Salter, and Hendrix Salter; half-sister, Laurel (Steve Bellamy) Leone; sisters, Jane (Tom) Kingston, Susan (Denis Ostroot) Hartley DVM, Anne Anderson; brother, John 'JR' Hartley; brother-in-law, David Lenich; nieces, Maren Anderson, Noel Anderson Sanchez, Helen Rose Hartley, Sarah Lenich, Mary Chitjian, Hannah Stackpool, and Abby Lenich; plus step-brothers, Mark (Donalda) Romano and Loren (MaryAnn) Romano.

Liz's family deeply appreciates the compassionate care and expertise of home care workers, and all staff at Waterview Woods, Virginia hospital & ER, and Cron-Sheehy.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 15 from 5-7 PM at Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home in Eveleth with prayers at 6:30. A Celebration of Life gathering will take place Friday, May 16 at 1 PM at Margie's Roosevelt. A private family funeral will be officiated by Episcopal Deacon Kim Heise followed by inurnment at the Eveleth Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Eveleth Community Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home. Visit www.cron-sheehy.com to leave a message of condolences.