Jesse A Porter

Jesse Aaron Porter passed into legend at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth on October 13,

2026, a casualty of a two-year war with esophageal cancer. He was born March 21, 1980 in

Aurora, Minnesota, the second son to James and Susan (née Kontio) Porter. Jesse grew up in

Markham, Minnesota. The most precious and blondest boy, he had the kind of childhood only

afforded to those who grow up in the middle of nowhere. He liked playing outside, riding

minibikes, kicking butt at video games, and watching professional wrestling.

 

As a child, Jesse could often be found at the library where he could surround himself with

books, a lifelong love of his. He threw himself into music playing trumpet in school band, then

French horn. On his own time, he taught himself how to play guitar. Eventually, Speech called

his name and though he was a born and bred introvert, he loved competing with and against his

other speech nerds. He never lost his pride in being part of this special group and eventually

carried those skills and talents into his adult life.

 

Jesse graduated from Mesabi East high school in 1998. He attended UMD’s theater program for

a year but decided school wasn’t for him. That didn’t stop him from enjoying creative pursuits,

however. He was part of several bands including Cave of Roses and I am the Slow Dancing

Umbrella. He stuck with theater too, acting in local Renegade Theater shows which he truly

loved but was not able to sustain, especially after having his daughter Belle with then wife

Amanda (née Ronning). After attending Lake Superior College he went to work at WDIO, a local

TV station. He worked as a director and he was a natural. Calm, unrattled, and unfazed, he

proudly delivered error-free shows almost every single night. Eventually, Jesse would go on to

work for every TV station in the Northland. After WDIO he helped start True North TV, a

short-lived but very promising TV station in Ashland, Wisconsin that gave Northern Wisconsin

the first station of its own. When that station closed Jesse’s talents were tapped once again to

be on the ground floor of FOX 21, which is still thriving today. Over his career in TV he was

nominated for awards several times, eventually winning two Upper Midwest Regional Emmys –

and come on, how can you not be proud of that one!

 

Through his connections with TV, Jesse was called upon to direct coverage of UMD hockey

games both for WDIO in his early 20s and then at the Amsoil Arena in his later years of TV.

When his talent for running A/V equipment became evident to the installers at the Amsoil he

was offered a job to travel around the country installing and training people on entertainment

systems. It was hard work with long days and he had to leave his family for weeks at a time but

he was good at it. Really good at it. Plus he enjoyed being with his coworkers, seeing new

places, and trying new foods. Everywhere he went he made connections, some turning into

lifelong friendships.

 

Eventually being on the road became too much so he used his extensive electronic skills to get

a job at Cirrus Aircraft in Duluth where he worked on new projects like the Vision Jet as part of

the Experimental Department. He was the ultimate problem solver and consummate teacher. He

could explain anything to anyone and had the patience of a saint.

 

After more than a decade at Cirrus, Jesse followed his heart for something new again. He left

Cirrus for Moline Machinery where he built machines that made donuts all over the world. If

you’ve ever eaten a Hostess Donette, you’ve experienced some of Jesse’s handiwork.

Eventually he left Moline Machinery for Arctic Compressor in Superior where he got to make

portable air compressors for breathing air for firefighters and first responders. It was a job he

really connected with and truly seemed to enjoy — the work itself and his coworkers. He had

only worked there about a year when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer on September

6, 2024. Though he tried to keep working it was too much with the various treatments he

endured.

 

Cancer robbed so much from Jesse even before it robbed him of his life. Surgery, radiation,

chemo, chemo, chemo, feeding tubes, nutrition through a hole in his arm and eventually a

stroke and countless other hardships. It was so brutal at times but he never really complained.

Even when he was in pain so severe he couldn’t sleep he would so casually give it a mere four

on the pain scale. He was just cool, calm, and kind Jesse through it all.

 

If you knew Jesse, you knew he was one of the nicest people you’d ever meet. He was quiet,

but not weak. Kind but not lacking convictions. He’d most often give people a very generous

benefit of the doubt. He was super generous and a great tipper. He had the most wicked smart

dry sense of humor and loved crappy sci-fi movies. Jesse thoroughly enjoyed a round of mini

golf and disc golf but never actual golf. He was a life-long learner and deep thinker. Jesse was

magic. Jesse was a vibe. Ultimately he was just a really really good friend and the best partner.

For all his adventuring, Jesse’s favorite place to be was at home surrounded by his cats, two

giant dogs, and his partner of 18 years, Amber Beck. Jesse and Amber actually knew each

other since they were both 12 but only reconnected at age 29 after many a life experience for

them both. Jesse and Amber were complete opposites. If Jesse was the steady rock that held

everything together (and he was), Amber was the roll that kept things moving and shaking. But it

worked. They would fight like any couple but they always made a point to say “I’m sorry” and “I

forgive you“ never leaving the distance between them too far for too long. They also made it a

point to never stop laughing together, especially during the hard times. Given the chance they

would have happily enjoyed another 100 years together.

 

Jesse is preceded in death by his dad Jim Porter, grandparents Sigrid (Ojanen) and Arthur

Kontio, Lela (Stewart) and Glenn Porter. He is survived by his partner Amber Beck, his beautiful

daughter Belle (Nathan Leon) Porter, his mom Sue Porter, brother Jace (Mary Kay) Porter,

Amber’s parents Martin and Natalie Beck and brother Ted (Lisa) Beck, nieces Amelia Porter,

Eleanor and Winnifred Beck, many aunts and uncles, and several cousins.

 

A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday October 31st from noon to 3 at The Proctor

Area Community Center. In lieu of flowers the family is grateful for monetary support in this

difficult time.