Lucille "Lucy" M. Radovich

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Lucille “Lucy” Marie Radovich, age

87. She died on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Essentia St. Mary’s Medical Center in

Duluth, MN. She was born on July 10, 1938 to Reuben and Margaret (McCabe)

Connors in Hibbing, MN. Lucy graduated from Hibbing High School in 1956. After high

school, she worked for Ryan Construction as a Secretary for Russel and Francis Ryan.

In 1961, she married her high school sweetheart, LeRoy Radovich, and they moved to

Maryland for her husband to pursuit a teaching position. Lucy landed a career at

Andrews Air Force Base as Secretary for the Department of Intelligence. Shortly after,

they moved back to Minnesota to raise a family in St. Cloud, MN. At 40 years old, Lucy

graduated from St. Cloud State with a degree in education and in 1981 became an

elementary school teacher at the Avon School District.

Lucy and LeRoy were Saint Cloud State hockey boosters and never missed a game.

They enjoyed their teaching schedules and spent every summer at their lake cabin on

Big Sturgeon Lake where they eventually enjoyed designing and building their

retirement home. Lucy, unfortunately, became a widow at the age of 60 when her

husband passed of a heart attack. She cherished her home that was built by her

husband and all the wonderful memories that were created there with her family and

friends. Her devotion to him was admired. Any season of the year… lake life, was her

life. She was the “Jackie O” of Side Lake.

Lucy was a devoted member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing where

she attended the Assumption school and volunteered many hours doing adoration and

teaching a high- level reading group at the school. She volunteered many hours for the

Fairview Auxiliary at the Hibbing hospital. Lucy was well known and very involved with

the Side Lake Community. She cherished the connection she had with her book club,

coffee club, and birthday club. She had an amazing gift of story-telling, attention to

detail, and remembering family history. Lucy loved cooking, traveling, watching the high

school hockey tournament, hosting parties, being funny, and making potica. She also

spent a lot of her time planning her two favorite holidays, Christmas and the 4th of July.

She created so many traditional memories with lots of great food, beautiful decorations

and of course a time to laugh and have fun.

She is survived by her two daughters; Ann (Brian) Gleeson and Mary (Steve) Kruser.

Five grandchildren; Katherine Kruser, Maeve Kruser, Nick Kruser, Connor Gleeson and

Mara Gleeson; sisters-in-law, Coetta Connors, Barbara Radovich, MaryAnn Hazeman;

brothers-in-law, Bill (Pat) Radovich, Richard (Judy) Radovich, and Jack (Sandy)

Radovich, along with many nieces and nephews.

Lucy was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy Radovich; parents Reuben and

Margaret (McCabe) Connors; brother Pat Connors; sisters Ethel Mae “Liz” Berklich,

Kay Nevanen, and Sharon Foster; brothers-in-law Jerry Nevanen and Daryl Foster.

Funeral services for Lucy will be on Saturday, March 28, 2026 . Visitation will be from

10:30 am until 11:45 am at the Dougherty Funeral Home and the Mass of Christian

Burial at 12:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing celebrated by the

Reverend Father Bill Skarich. Burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to the Blessed Sacrament Church and the Side Lake

Community. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.