Nornes News Notes

Obituary - John Aanden

2010-12-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

JOHN PHILLIP AANDEN

John (Johnny), 75, passed away Wed., Dec. 22. 2010 at the Stevens Community Medical Center, Morris, MN after a long illness with complications of Valley Fever. The son of Oscar and Agnes (Nornes) Aanden of Beltrami, MN, he was born Feb. 2, 1935 in Crookston, MN. He grew up in Beltrami and graduated from Fertile High School in 1953. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Moorhead State and a Master of Science in School Administration from North Dakota State University. After serving with the US Army in Germany from 1957 to '59, he taught business at the Commercial Business College in Bismarck, ND and in 1960 joined the Herman, MN, school system serving as a business teacher and High School Principal until his retirement in 1993.

He married Arlene Eidsmoe of Nielsville, MN, in 1960. They had two children, Mitchell (Robin) of Litchfield and Lisa (Greg) Hanson of Cottage Grove, MN. Besides his wife and children he is survived by his sister Anne Marie of Eden Prairie, MN; grandsons Isaac, Alexander, and Samuel Hanson; step granddaughters Caitlin Fickel and Haley (Jason) Malherek of Litchfield, and three great granddaughters, McKenna and Elaina Fickel, and RaeLynn Malherek. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bernard (Corky) Aanden, and step grandson, David Fickel.

John was active in Herman's Bethel Lutheran Church and Dollars for Scholars. Both John and Arlene were honored in 1993 by the Herman Odd Fellows Hall of Fame for community service. His passion was flying; he was a member of the Agassiz Flyers, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and was manager of the Herman Municipal Airport.

Obituary - Margaret Dahl

2010-12-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

Margaret Naomi Nornes Dahl was born Decmber 28, 1916 in Shelly to Carl and Grace Nornes. She graduated from St. Lukes School of Nursing, Fargo, ND, in 1935. She married Obert Dahl in 1937 who passed away in 1989. She worked for Dr. Magness at the Dakota Clinic for 15 years.

Following her nursing career, Margaret was the director for the Arthritis Foundation. She also devoted many years to the Merit Care Auxiliary, serving on the Board. She was a volunteer until the age of 90 with over 8900 hours of service.

A wonderful mother, grandma, and friend, she was especially close to her granddaughters Erica and Jeana, and was cared for and loved by her daughter-in-law Rachel. Margaret spent her last years at the Pioneer House and the Elim Nursing Home.

Margaret is survived by sons John (Rachel) Dahl, Fargo; and Jim (Shelia) Dahl, Kerrville, TX; brother Jack Nornes, Owatonna; Dixie Dahl, San Diego, and grandchildren Jeff and Deanne Dahl, San Diego; Erica (Brian) Kaldenberg, Iowa City; and Jeana Dahl, Mpls.

Services were held Dec. 23.

Genealogy - April 2010-Dec. 31-2010

2010-12-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

MARRIAGE
Kia Irene Thrasher, daughter of Lucille and Gary Thrasher, to Ben Hanna, Jan. 2, 2010.

Erica Rochelle Dahl, daughter of John and Rachel Dahl, to Brian Kaldenberg.

BIRTHS
Elyse Michelle Miner, June 2010, daughter of Nathan and Kristen Miner, GP- Tom and Mary Stoltman.

Nora Marie Rockstad, June 27, 2010, daughter of Elizabeth and Neal Rockstad. GP- Solveig and Wayne Kitchell.

Emma Jean Dimich, November 25, 2010, daughter of Megan and Matthew Dimich, GP-Verna and Donald Fricke.

RaeLynn Malherek, Noveber 9, 2010, daughter of Haley and Jason Malherek, GP- Robin and Mitchell Aanden

Leah Patty-Ann Brooks, December 10, 2010, daughter of Diana and James Brooks, GP-Paul Renshaw

DEATHS
Margaret Nornes Dahl, December 8, 2010
John Phillip Aanden, December 22, 2010

Births - Sept., 2009 - March 2010

2010-03-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

The following are births that I know about from September last fall through this March:

September, 2009 - Ryan Jay Mauritson, son of Jay and Cindy Mauritson.
March 11, 2010 - Miles James Mauritson, son of Jeremy and Monica Mauritson.
GP-James and Annie Mauritson, GGP-Chester and JoAnne Mauritson.

September 10, 2009 - Avri Jo Bensen, daughter of Mark and Amanda Bensen, GP- Kermit Bensen and (step GP) Sandy Bensen, GGP- Gunhild and Malton Bensen.

March 3, 2010 - Austin Aran Pehlke Johnson, son of Joe and Joy Johnson, GP - Barbara Ferry, GGP- Helmer and Karine Nornes.

March 21, 2010 - McKenna and Elaina Fickel, daughters of Caitlin Fickel, GP- Robin and (step GP)Mitchell Aanden, step-GGP - John and Arlene Aanden.

New Relative Contacts

2010-02-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

Recently two persons in Norway have found me on this blog and requested information about our family. The first one was Dag Hoelseth who is related through Martha's (Bernt's wife) family and through Jeff Nornes' wife, Kristin Hole. I have sent him the history book and keep track of him on Facebook.

The other one just this week was Lars Asbjørn Nag, related through my generation's great-great grandmother, Kristi Sveinungsd. Idso, wife of Bjørn Larsen Hviding. He really knew very little about the Kvitsøy and even less about the Karmøy connections. I'll get the book mailed to him on Monday. Their English is so good there is no problem in communicating.

I bought a translation program I wanted to use to translate comments from Norway on Facebook. However, it is not working the way I thought it would and am quite disappointed. I may have to try to get my money back.

Planning will soon get underway for August 14th Family Reunion.

Update of Johnny

2009-12-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Isaid in my Christmas letter to go to posts for June 1 Nov. 28th, but I didn't get time to write the November one. After the rehab in Alex, which was quite unsatisfactory, he started outpatient rehab in Morris and was able to walk with a cane. He was extremely weak and had been and still was taking so much medicine, his sugar levels went crazy. He was on heavy doses of insulin from the time he was in the hospital until the prednisone was lowered a month ago. He checks his levels four times a day but only takes a little on the days he takes prednisone which he will be able to discontinue next week.

The Morris rehab went better until he started having severe back pain. Family osteoporosis and all the anti-fungal medicine and especially the prednisone were destroying his bones. After months of unrelenting pain that even narcotics could not relieve, they found he had four compression fractures, one old and three new. He could not lie down for X-rays and MRIs without screaming in pain. He's slept in a recliner since July. Finally a couple of weeks ago they did one vertebroplasty and another "-plasty" with a balloon whose name I can't spell. They go into the spine and fill in the fractured bones with a cement that fortunately has given him relief. He still gets a tired back but is moderately active, driving his new pickup that he bought on the Cash for Clunkers program. For the first time today he told me he felt good. Seven months plus of misery. He's very stooped over and thin but things are definitely better.

Harold Nornes

2009-11-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Harold Nornes, son of Bernt and Martha Nornes, passed away September 25, 2009, at his home in Smyrna, TN. He was born May 1, 1930, in Winger, MN. He was an avid sports participant and fan. He spent twenty years in the U.S. Air Force and upon retiring worked another twenty-three years for the U.S. Postal Service. He was buried at Roselawn Gardens with full military honors. He is survived by his wife Margie, daughters Debbie Hanna and Sandy Nornes, and son Ronnie; his sister Idelle Bagne, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. See also family history book pages 244-247.

More Cousins

2009-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

Mark and Susan Hermodson - Wrigley Field

Mauritson Cousins - Maurice Dyer, James Mauritson, Verna Fricke, Kathleen Huntley, Marsha Waind

Inger Dahl Nornes, David Nornes, Bjørn and Marit Nornes, Elias Nornes, Ida Nilsen, Rønnaug Nilsen, Synnøve Nornes.Ingrid Nornes, Marion and Daniel Nornes

Chelsea Aoki, wife of Scott Hermodson, with Ethan and Kai

Pictures -2009-Miscellaneous

2009-09-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Christopher and Julie Bennes

Tate and Skyler Smith

Joe and Joy Johnson and friend on the left.

Pictures - 2009 - Hermodson

2009-09-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Warren and Mavis Hermodson with Pam and James Henning, Children Kayla and Ryan

Chris and Gail Rautmann

Chad Kjorlien, Amy Hermodson with Eric

Jason Peterson

Matthew and Megan Dimich, Don, Verna, and Joseph Fricke

Kia and Alexandra (Zan) Thrasher

Pictures - 2009 - Dyers

2009-09-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ruthie (90th Birthday) and daughters Marsha Waind and Beverly Larson Jennifer Larson Roesler - Wedding

Meri and Michelle Dyer

Hannah and Lucy Dyer

Maurice Dyer Family

Pictures - 2009 - Bursheims

2009-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Stina Marie Breckenridge and Grandpa Myron Bursheim

Nat Bursheim

Mark Bursheim

Pictures - 2009 - Pearl and Bob Arras Family

2009-09-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Siene Allen - Nikki's daughter

Echo Dassinger

Darren, Echo, and Julie Dassinger

Nikki and Jaime Schielke

Bob & Ginny (Pearl) Arras - 50th Wedding Anniversary Party

Life and Death, Again

2009-06-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

Meri Lower Dyer, wife of Maurice Dyer (Ruthie's son) passed away June 9 in Elgin, Illinois. Besides her husband, she is survived by her daughter Michelle and son Michael (Jen) and granddaughters Hannah and Lucy Bea, born five days before on June 4. There will be visitation from 2-4 and service at 4 at Laird Funeral Home in Elgin on June 20.

My brother John has been very ill with acute respiratory failure. He left with a terrible head cold on April 21 for Albuquerque and a trip to the Southwest with Arlene, her brother and wife, and another couple. He was hospitalized in Santa Fe that night and then diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (which he didn't know he had), pneumonia, and altitude sickness (common in Santa Fe, he was told). The rest of the trip was canceled, he came home, and seemed to be okay with oxygen. However, after a few days, he relapsed, was hospitalized in Morris and then transferred by ambulance to Abbott in Mpls. He was in ICU there, virtually on life support, for almost a week. He had seven pumps of fluids and medicine, a feeding tube, a breathing tube, two catheters, two monitors, three doctors, and an ICU nurse. He evidently had contacted Valley Fever as well in Albuquerque, where he had had to wait four days for delivery of oxygen tanks that could be taken on a plane. Last Thursday we drove him to a nursing home in Alexandria for rehab, and he will be discharged from there tomorrow. He will have further rehab outpatient in Morris.

For further information on Valley Fever, go to http://phoenix.about.com/cs/health/a/valleyfever01.htm.

Berdeen, Babies

2009-05-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Berdeen Nornes passed away on May 1 at Bethany Homes in Fargo at the age of 86. His wife Jill is also a resident of Bethany. He is survived by his four daughters Nancy Olson, Mary Stoltman, Barb Larson, and Dianne Myhrer, 9 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.

He attended business school and worked for various companies in Thief River Falls, Minneapolis, and Fargo-Moorhead. He entered the army in 1943 and as part of the Army Air Corps, he flew over 150 combat missions over the hump into China and Burma hauling supplies to the front lines. They had no guns or ammunition so were subject to enemy fire on every mission. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and an air medal with two oak leaf clusters.

His funeral was held May 4 at St. John Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Two babies this spring

April 26, Zachary Pierce (4lbs., 13 oz.), son of Randy and Heather Shields Nornes. Grandparents are Bud and Joyce Nornes.

May 4, Stina Marie (9lbs., 4 oz.), daughter of Andy and Rachel Bursheim Breckenridge. Grandfather is Myron Bursheim.

Life and Death - Easter, 2009

2009-04-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is the last letter posted to Harvey by Håkon on Facebook.
"Last night I got an idea to search on FB for ”Nornes” , ending up by getting a few new FB Nornes friends.Do not know how many that will accept my Friend invitation but it is nice to see that our name is represented here as well.At this moment I am working in the west pacific onboard my vessel Geo Searcher.We are exploring the continental shelf around the Easter Island on behalf of the Chilean Government.I had a nice day on the Easter Island last week, went on a guided tour and visit the old statues. ( see album )I will be back on Easter I. for crew change April 8, celebrate Easter on the Island before I head home for the Norwegian spring.My parents is at the moment on Thayer long vacation on the Canaries Island, believe they will head home for Easter as well."

My generation's third cousin, Håkon Nornes, 43, son of Bjørn and Marit Nornes of Åkrehamn, Norway was killed in an All Terrain Vehicle accident on Easter Island on Good Friday, April 10 (Western Pacific time, Thursday, US and Norway time). Håkon was the Captain of the Geo Searcher, a Norwegian seismic expedition ship (oil exploration) operating in the South Pacific.

If my translation of the Karmøy newspaper is correct, he had time off for a change in the ship's crew and several of the men were exploring the island on ATV's. Håkon lost control of his vehicle, drove off the road and hit a tree. He was scheduled to come home within the next few days for his son's confirmation. In an earlier edition of the same newspaper was a long letter Håkon had written only a few days before the accident describing a bus tour of the island he and shipmates had taken when they had to dock to get aid for an ill crew member. He had posted pictures of this excursion on Facebook.

We met Håkon when we were on the Cousin Tour in 1998. Several of the men toured one of the ships that Bjørn and his sons owned that ran supplies out to ships that didn't come into ports very often. This was mainly off the coast of Africa. That business has since folded, but all three have continued their maritime connections. Elias, who visited Family Reunion along with his fiance and parents in 1999, handles the business end of it on land, and Bjørn still occasionally works for the Norwegian government on ships like the Geo Searcher as an inspector to protect the fisheries in the exploration activities. I know Bjørn and Mariet better than I knew Håkon, but we had recently reconnected on Facebook so I knew more or less what he was doing. Bjørn telephoned Roger to tell of the accident and related how Håkon has had several adventures at sea, even a sinking ship, so it's tough for them to have him die in such a useless accident. Bjørn and Marit's address is Tjøsvollveien 36, Åkrehamn 4270, Norway.

Third and fourth cousins are distant relationships, but some genes are very strong in the Nornes family, notably male-pattern baldness. Below are the Facebook pictures of Håkon on the left and Bud's son Randy on the right. They are fourth cousins but could be brothers. If you didn't know at least one of them well, you would hardly be able to tell them apart.

Another e-mail: My name is Benito Atan Im the Ship Agent in Easter Island I was workingwith Cap. Hakon Nornes, and i have a really deep feeling with him, imlooking for a email or something of his famili also I have some picturesthe i will want so send.please if you have any information will be apritiate.thanks

We remember also this Easter the stillborn birth of Anna Irene Kjorlien, daughter of Amy Hermodson and Chad Kjorlien of Winona.

The floods haven't hurt Norneses too badly in the Red River Valley, so the weather gods hit Janae and Elliott Peterson (son of Kathy Huntley and Collin Peterson) in the Tennessee tornado last week. Their house wasn't exactly flattened but destroyed, nevertheless. Fortunately they were not at home at the time - in church in fact - and are now living in a hotel.

On a happier note, despite the rising water, some people got to Chester's 80th birthday Open House in Shelly on Saturday, postponed a week because of the floods. His sister Ruth Dyer is being moved into an assisted living facility tomorrow and will celebrate her 90th birthday there on April 25. Her new address is 4006 24th Ave. S., #314, Grand Forks, ND, 58201. I'm sorry I couldn't get to either birthday party. The best I could do was send him this picture taken of Johnny and me and Chester on our farm April 3 (also my father's birthday), Easter Sunday, 1938.

Chester's Birthday

2009-02-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

Norneses are invited to an Open House for Chester's 80th Birthday (No Gifts) on Saturday, April 4, from 2-5 p.m. at the Senior Citizen's Building in Shelly. No RSVP is necessary; send a card if you can't attend. 105 Third Street, PO Box 177, Shelly, 56581.

Facebook

2009-02-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

I've recently joined Facebook and started a Nornes group within it. I haven't, however, started any discussion or posted any news on it. I have found over 20 Norneses already on Facebook or who have joined as a "friend" when I asked them to so it has been fun contacting people I normally don't hear from.

The most recent news is that Gail Hermodson (Mark and Susan's daughter) was married February 9 to Christopher Rautman. Also Michael Dyer (Ruthie's grandson) is married - wife is Jennifer Kunz - and they have a daughter Hannah Ruth.

For the Bernhard family, the Melbo relatives (two couples who are descendants of Petra's niece Malena) are coming to the US the latter part of August. I've never met them but have been corresponding with them for a year or so.

Uncle Helmer

2008-12-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Uncle Helmer died this week, 21 days shy of his 97th birthday. As Connie said, "I think the Lord forgot about him."

I reread the memoirs he had written, very well-done for a man with only a high school education, but was most moved by the last paragraph of the written by my Aunt Ruth. (The last pages were memories written by three of his sisters, including my mother, and one of his sisters-in-law.)

"Helmer loved to sing. Mother asked him once why he was always singing. He replied, "It's always singing inside of me so I have to." Kids in school used to get him into the barn (rural schools also had barns) and there they had "request" programs. He knew so many of the war songs during the war (WWI) time so he entertained. Their teacher wondered what was going on out there so she went to investigate. There they were with Helmer in the center of the group filling requests for songs."

He was a terrific singer - a beautiful and resounding bass - and Aunt Karine was a strong alto. They sang in the church choir all their lives, and I wonder if they ever kept track of how many funerals they sang for. Our church choir was very small, and he was only bass. That's all they needed. Anymore would have been over-powering.

I hope they have some good music at the funeral on Tuesday.
Labels: Helmer's funeral
Link: Nornes News Notes

Helmer

2008-12-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

Uncle Helmer passed away this morning at the nursing home in Fergus Falls, where he had been for several years. He would have been 97 years old on Christmas Eve. He was the youngest, but the longest-lived male in the Nornes family. He was the last to die of his generation of which there were 21 members in the US and 1 in Norway, the grandchildren of Børre and Gunhild Bjørnsen.

Joe and Joy

2008-10-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

Joe (Joseph) Johnson, son of Barbara Ferry and Cary Johnson, married Joy Pehlke, June 28, 2008. Grandparents are Helmer and Karine Nornes.

Fall Newsletter 2008

2008-09-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

The 2008 edition of the Nornes News Notes is ready for mailing. On the previous blog (Sept. 9) you will find several recent pictures I had planned to include in the printed newsletter, but I could not reproduce them in a quality that was worth the cost. I couldn't afford to do them in color, and black and white simply wasn't good enough. Even printing them directly from my computer instead of copying them didn't look good. Instead, I inserted them here where they look pretty good. Below is entire newsletter but in copying it into the blog ,I lost all the format and the graphics so it does not look as nice as the printed version.

50 Norneses Attend ‘08 Reunion
Donations for the bake sale and silent auction ranging from krumkake to Minnesota history books to knitted dishcloths lured Nornes family members into spending a hefty $601.45 to add to the Family Circle coffers for future reunion expenses.

Besides enriching the treasury, the program, featuring Myron Bursheim and news from the families, enriched the attendees spiritually and emotionally, even with the shedding of many tears. Myron Bursheim led the singing of favorite hymns with his 12-string guitar which he plays, he says, “Because I can.” President Lowell Bennes gave a brief devotional on the meaning of love, followed by cousins of the second generation introducing family members and relating what has happened both to them and absent relatives during the past two years.

It was time to elect new officers, a procedure simplified by the practice of the Vice-President, in this case Jackie Nornes, assuming the Presidency and with the privilege of appointing her own Vice-President at her leisure. Through either purposeful neglect, forgetfulness, or the desire to eat lunch, no mention was made of the Secretary or the Treasurer so it is assumed the present officers—Connie Jeffers and Maren Ogdie—will have to continue in their current positions.

Attendees then enjoyed a fried-chicken lunch arranged for by Tammy Anderson and supplemented with family baked goods. The afternoon was spent visiting, catching up on family news, and reminiscing about old times.

Those family members arriving Saturday evening either enjoyed the local VFW cuisine or went out to a fancier restaurant to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversaries of Jim and Nancy Bensen, Howard and Sonia Nornes, and LaVern and Lois Nornes.

Twin Cities in 2010!
After 74 years of annual and now semi-annual reunions being held in northern Minnesota, it’s time to reach out to the wider membership of the Nornes Family living in the greater Twin Cities Metropolitan area.

The following rather rough attendance statistics (of families for whom I have addresses) show why the northern Minnesota site is not necessarily the most convenient nor the most likely to attract participation. There are 50 families in Northern Minnesota or North Dakota, 20 of whom attend regularly, 10 occasionally, 20 never for a 60 percent attendance record. In the Twin City Metro and Southern Minnesota there are 64 families, 10 attend regularly, 14 occasionally, and 40 never for a 37 percent attendance record.

The remaining Norneses are scattered throughout the United States. A half-dozen or so families have attended recently, but most have never attended at all since childhood.

Detailed plans for 2010 have not yet been formulated but an attempt will be made to make the reunion as convenient and entertaining as possible for families from both areas. A site along either of the two major freeways will be given prime consideration with perhaps the major events being held on Saturday afternoon and evening rather than Sunday morning. A committee will begin work this fall to select and reserve a venue. The date for 2010 would be either Sunday, August 8th or Saturday, the 14th, trying to adhere to the second Saturday or Sunday of August. (Look at a 2010 calendar for clarification.)

NORNES BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS--2006-2008
Marriages
Troy Myhrer, son of Diane and David Myhrer, to Stephanie Tvieten, April 3, 2005. GP– Berdeen Nornes and Alice Hemmestvedt.

Kayla Marie Kronschnabel, daughter of Dean and Joan Kronschnabel, to Douglas Craig Pierre, Jr., Dec. 16, 2006. GP-Sylvia and Reuben Gullickson.

Diana Ruth Renshaw, daughter of Paul and the late Patty Renshaw, to James Brooks, May 19, 2007. GP– Ruth and Rudolph Anderson.

Amy Louise Kitchell, daughter of Solveig and Wayne Kitchell, to Sean Degerstrom, June 30, 2007. GP-Paul and Norah Nornes.

Haley Gene Fickel, daughter and step-daughter of Robin and Mitchell Aanden, to Jason Mahlerek, May 31, 2008. SGP-John and Arlene Aanden.

Randi Nornes, son of Larry and Joyce Nornes, to Heather Shields, June 12, 2008. GP-Helmer and Karine Nornes.

Jill Katherine Bensen, daughter of James and Nancy
Bensen, to Haile Hayden, July 5, 2008. GP– Gunhild and Malton Bensen.

CORRECTION, Page 2 of Bernhard Genealogy: Louise and Herman were married in 1929.

Births
Parker John Nelson, April 26, 2004, son of Laura and Richard Nelson, GP—Dianne and David Myhrer, GGP– Berdeen Nornes and Alice Hemmestvedt.

Avery Elizabeth Gullickson, Dec. 1, 2006, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Gullickson, GP—Robert and BarbaraGullickson, GGP– Sylvia and Reuben Gullickson.

Victoria Lee Nelson, Dec. 19, 2006, daughter of Laura & Richard Nelson, GP—Dianne and David Myhrer, GGP– Berdeen Nornes and Alice Hemmestvedt.

Alexia Elizabeth Benton, March 23, 2007, daughter of Amanda and Gary Benton, GP– Diane and David Myhrer, GGP– Berdeen Nornes and Alice Hemmestvedt.

Alice Mae Renshaw, June 13, 2007, daughter of Jonathan and Anne Marie Renshaw, GP– Paul and the late Patty Renshaw, GGP– Ruth & Rudolph Anderson.

Madelyn Grace Miner, August 18, 2007, daughter of Kristen and Nathan Miner, GP– Mary and Tom Stoltman, GGP-Berdeen Nornes and Alice Hemmestvedt.

Madeline Belle Ruth Liebelt, June 17, 2008, daughter of Nathan and Kim Liebelt, GP– Todd and Donna Liebelt, GGP—Betty and LeRoy Liebelt, GGGP– Ruth and Rudolph Anderson.

Ruby Bettina Nornes, July 21, 2008, daughter of David and Karen Nornes, GP-Howard and Sonia Nornes, GGP-Halvor and Ida Nornes.

In Loving Memory

JOHN KERMIT BENSEN, February 19, 2008, stillborn son of Mark and Amanda Bensen, GP-Kermit and the late Ruby Bensen, GGP– Gunhild and Malton Bensen.

AL KOHLER died July 31, 2007, at Escondido, CA after a long battle with COPD and a short battle with pneumonia . He is survived by his wife Rosemarie Anderson. He attended Seton Hall University and served in the army in Korea and in Europe. He worked for the Varian Association in the San Francisco area, where he married Rosemarie Sept. 27, 1962. Interment was at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Oceanside, CA. (See also family history book, pages 145-6.)

SYLVIA NORNES GULLICKSON died March 2, 2008 at Fertile, MN where she had lived almost all her life. She was born May 19, 1922, the daughter of Carl and Grace Nornes. She grew up and attended school in Climax, graduating from high school in 1940. Moving with her parents to Rindal, she attended a dance in Fertile where she met Reuben Gullickson, whom she married on June 29, 1943. They were both employed in aircraft work in Wichita, KS during WWII. They returned to Fertile, but went back to Wichita during the Korean War. They returned again to Fertile to farm and later purchased and ran the Fertile Laundry and Cleaners.
She is survived by one son Robert (Barb) Gullickson, two daughters—Joan (Dean) Kronschnabel and Mary (Bruce) Gast; one brother Jack Nornes and one sister Margaret Dahl; ten grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Reuben in 1996 and brothers Charles and Harry. Services and burial were at Little Norway Church, rural Fertile. (See also family history book, pages 83-5.)

RICHARD JEFFERS died suddenly August 30, 2007. Born Oct 16, 1944 in West St. Paul, he graduated from Sibley High School in 1962 and Concordia College in 1967. “Richard and I (Connie Nornes) were married June 3, 1967. He came from a small family so he very eagerly “adopted” the Nornes clan. It was very rare for him to miss family Reunion. I think he was awed by our knowing so much about our heritage and how we celebrated our family joys and sorrows. LaVern Nornes still talks about our time in Norway in 1998. Because of Richard, the whole trip is documented on tape.

“In the summer of 2006 we talked about what we would do for our 40th anniversary. I talked Richard into a party because it would be a great excuse for Helmer and Karine’s family and others to come together. Usually that happened only at the time of a funeral. So the planning began. June of 2007 found us celebrating with family and friends, and we had a wonderful time together. For entertainment Richard surprised me and everyone by dressing up as Elvis (with the wig on backwards) and singing ‘Love Me Tender’ to me. It was priceless.
Richard survived a year in Viet Nam and 26 years on the Coon Rapids Fire Department, but he could not live with the depression over the probability of partial paralysis of his right hand. Richard was a self-taught handy man and could build or fix anything. We loved our time at the lake and felt blessed to have that special place. But even that became a burden. We miss his energy and thank God for the man we knew and the memories he gave us. My family and I want to thank you for your love and support.”

Besides Connie, Richard is survived by son Scott (Brenda) Jeffers and their three daughters Hannah, Rachel, and Jordyn; and by daughter Diana (Darren) Kern and their son Alex and daughter Lauren. Services were held at Glen Cary Lutheran Church in Ham Lake with the Coon Rapids Firefighters in their truck guiding the family and friends to the Glen Cary Cemetery.

ANNABELLE EID LECY died Feb. 22, 2008. Born March 31, 1933 in Ada, she grew up and attended school in Gary. She married Floyd Lecy on June 6, 1954, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Moorhead State College. She taught school in Buxton, ND for two years and Lewis & Clark Elementary in Fargo for thirty-three years. Besides Floyd, she is survived by son Tom (Mary Jo) Lecy, daughter Debra (Dave) Nelson, and four grandchildren: Alexandria and Elizabeth Lecy, and Joshua and Jonathan Nelson. Services were February 28, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. (See also family history book, pages 251-2.)

JOYCE BENSEN ANDERSON OLOFSON, born November 11, 1932, died July 7, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer, dancing her way through life to the very end. Her final wish was to attend her god-daughter Jill Bensen’s wedding in San Francisco which she managed to do, passing away in the car on the way home to Arizona from the wedding. The daughter of Gunhild Nornes and Malton Bensen, she grew up and attended school in rural McIntosh after which she graduated from Erskine High School and Bethesda School of Nursing. She worked in hospitals in Ada, MN and Grafton, ND. In 1952 she married James Anderson. They had two children, Tim and Cynthia. She was working for the Public Health Nursing Service in Ada when James died in October 1982. In 1987 she married Leonard Olofson. Together they lived in Ashley, ND; Alice, ND; Ada, MN; Moorhead, MN; and winters in Gold Canyon, AZ.

Besides her husband Leonard and children Tim (Hiromi) Anderson and Cynthia (Steve) Rude, she is survived by brothers James (Nancy) and Kermit (Sandy) Bensen, and grandchildren Emi and Bentley Anderson; and Jennifer, Stefanie, and Kristine Rude. She is also survived by a foster daughter Corina Grancorvitz, three step-children and nine step-grandchildren. Two cousins, Floyd Lecy and Roger Nornes, were raised as her brothers as well. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Meredith, and husband James. Services were held July 19, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead with interment in Ada. (See also family history book, pages 283-5.)

RONALD DYER, born September 17, 1943, son of Ruth Mauritson Dyer and Merrill Dyer, died March 19, 2008 at his residence in Aitkin, MN. Living on Farm Island Lake after his wife’s death, he was found by a friend after not showing up for the paper at the local store. He grew up in Moorhead and served in the US Navy. After retiring from the US Postal Service in Minneapolis and St. Paul, he moved with his wife Sandra Jo to Aitkin.

He was preceded in death by his father Merrill Dyer and his wife Sandy. He is survived by his mother Ruth, daughter Shelly (Doug) Argenbright, stepdaughter Judy Christy, brother Maurice (Meri) Dyer, sisters Beverly (Robert) Dean and Marsha (Paul) Waind, grandchildren Colin and Kayley Argenbright, nieces and nephews. Services were held April 28, 2008 at First Lutheran Church, Aitkin. (See also family history book, pages 105-6.)

Addresses—USMail and E-Mail— and the Blog
The attempt to keep up communications among this extended Nornes Family Circle necessitates compiling a directory of current addresses, either US mail or E-mail or both. We now have six generations of Norneses born in this country with a total of 443 direct descendants of Bernhard and Bendik. At Family Reunion this year, I printed out the names of everyone born before 1987. A few more addresses were added there as well as some corrections made. I spend an awful lot of postage on remailing notices and newsletters to people whose forwarding privileges have expired. And e-mail doesn't help if it comes back Mailer Daemon. Therefore, I am listing again the names of people for whom I would appreciate a family member sending me not only the correct post office address but e-mail as well, if possible, and thereby their own e-mail. I will try to communicate as much as possible through e-mail and this blog, but newsletters will still go out to those without e-mail. The printed newsletter will go out to everybody this time to be sure everyone has the information about the blog.

I failed in trying to set up a web page for the family so I have started this blog to post family news and obituaries. Note that while the title of the blog is "Nornes News Notes," getting to it on the web is www.nornesfamilycircle.blogspot.com. In the lower right-hand corner of each post, you can click on “comments” that I will check every day, or you can simply e-mail me in the first place—aanden@aol.com—to send me addresses and genealogy announcements or any other news.

MISSING ADDRESSES

Carmen Bahr, Jeremy Bahr, Jason Chierello, Chad Christie, Erica Dahl, Jeana Dahl, Joseph Fricke, Eric Gast, Kyle Gast, Lizbeth Gustafson, Ted Gustafson, Tara Heard, Nicholas Kronschnabel, Amber Liebelt, Brian D. Liebelt, Elizabeth Liebelt, Michael Liebelt, Jene Nornes, Melissa Nornes, Nathaniel Pass, Kayla Pierre, Michael Velzke, Tresa Waind, Daniel Zerott, Jason Espeseth, Samuel Friederichs, Tyler Knudson, Austin Lawhead, Sarah Lawhead, Erin Lecy, Christy Maxwell, Kevin Lecy, David Maxwell, Robert Maxwell, Laura Myhre, Jonathan Nelson, Joshua Nelson, Richard Nelson, Garret Nornes, Leah Nornes, Jennifer Rude, Matthew Stariha, Byron Taylor, Todd Taylor, Justin Toole, David Toso, Madeline Trelstad, Michael Trelstad

Nornes News Notes
Anne Marie Aanden
7610 Smetana Lane, #206, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
952-944-1826 Cell-952-270-7039 aanden@aol.com

Jacalyn Nornes

21613 Irene Avenue, Ironton, MN 56455 jnornes@charter.net

Connie Jeffers
416 148th Lane NE, Anoka, MN 55304
763-434-3101 cjeffers@q.com

Maren Ogdie
3075 Innsbruck Dr. N., New Brighton, MN 55112
651-633-8569 aogdies@q.com

New Pictures

2008-09-09T16:49:00.001-07:00

(Back) - Jay and Jeremy Mauritson (Front) James and Rita Mauritson, Annie (Mauritson) and Jason Gunkel, JoAnne and Chester Mauritson

Mitchell and Robin Aanden, Haley (Fickel) and Jason Mahlerek

Jim and Nancy Bensen with grandchildren Katelin,

Joshua, Andrew, Collin and Cooper Bensen

Leonard and Joyce Olofson, Jennifer, Stefanie, and Kristine Rude

Marcus and Alice Mae Renshaw

Diana (Renshaw) and James Brooks

Neal and Elizabeth Rockstad, Wayne Kitchell,
Amy (Kitchell) and Sean Degerstrom, Solveig Kitchell

Harvey Nornes, Richard and Connie Jeffers,

Barbara Ferry, Larry (Bud) Nornes

Richard (Ricky) Nornes, Tammy Anderson,

Heather (Shields) and Randy Nornes, Joyce and Bud Nornes

Mary Gast, Joan Kronschnabel, Robert Gullickson, Sylvia Gullickson

Some Extra Pictures

2008-09-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Margaret Dahl - 90th Birthday

Myron Bursheim, (Overlands - owners of the Hviding House), Jakob Meling, Rachel and Andy Breckenridge

Richard and Nancy Maltrud, Ellen Lee, Alice Davis, Carole and Paul Maltrud, Ken Lee

Megan (Fricke) and Matthew Dimich

Mark Hermodson, Warren Hermodson, Kathleen Huntley, Verna Fricke, Lucy Thrasher

Joyce Olofson Obituary

2008-07-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Joyce Bensen
Anderson Olofson
Joyce Bensen was born on November 11, 1932 to parents Malton and Gunhild (Nornes) Bensen at their rural farm home at Erskine, MN. She attended country school for 8 years at Foot Lake School in rural McIntosh, MN after which she graduated from Erskine High School. She graduated from Bethesda School of Nursing and worked in hospitals in Ada, MN and Grafton, ND
In 1952 she married James H. Anderson and they had two children; Tim Edwin and Cynthia Jo. She was a stay at home mom until Tim was a senior in high school, at that time she began working for The Public Health Nursing Service in Ada, MN.
James Anderson died in Oct. 1983 and she married Leonard Olofson in 1987. Together they lived in Ashley, ND; Alice, ND; Ada, MN; Moorhead, MN and during the winter months each year Gold Canyon, AZ. She enjoyed any social activity from playing bridge, shopping with the girls, spending time with family & friends at the lakes, and especially dancing with her love; Leonard. As a nurse she always had a way of caring for others.
Joyce died on July 7, 2008 at Gold Canyon, AZ after a courageous battle with cancer.
She is survived by her husband: Leonard, her two children: Tim (Hiromi) Anderson, Pleasanton, CA; Cynthia (Steve) Rude, Halstad, MN; three step children: Marvin (Pat) Olofson, Gwinner, ND; Mike (Darbie) Olofson, Elk River, MN; and Morey (Tim) Leiseth, Moorhead, MN; and one foster daughter: Corina (Roger) Grancorvitz, Mesa, AZ. Two biological brothers: M. James (Nancy) Bensen and Kermit (Sandy) Bensen both Bemidji, MN and two cousins raised as her brothers: Floyd Lecy, Moorhead, MN and Roger (Barbara) Nornes, Ortonville, MN. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 years to 27 years: Emi Anderson, Bentley Anderson, Jennifer Rude, Stefanie Rude, Kristine Rude, Johnathan Olofson & Sherri Suckow, Brittany Olofson, Robert Leiseth, Miles Olofson, Mason Olofson, Ella Olofson, McKenna Grancorvitz and Anika Grancorvitz.
She is preceded in death by her parents, infant sister: Meredith Bensen, first husband: James and a cousin raised as her brother: Art Lecy.
Joyce and Leonard are involved in the new Lutheran Church to be built in the Gold Canyon area as part of Our Saviors Parish. Memorials can be sent to: Our Saviors Lutheran Church; Building Fund, PO Box 6839, Mesa, AZ 85216. Unspecified memorials will be put toward the building fund.
Services will be held Saturday July 19th at 1 PM in Trinity Lutheran Church: 210 7th St South, in Moorhead, MN with a Prayer Service Friday, July 18th at 7PM also in Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be at The Ada Cemetery, Ada, MN.

Melbo Relatives

2008-07-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Anne Marie,
How are you? hope that all is well with you and your family. Next year we hope to be able to visit Minnesota and I have some question that I hope you can help me with.
I hope you can help with some information like when is the best month to travel the nearest airport and which hotel you can recommend for us.
We don't want to be a burden to you or any body else but we hope that we can meet some of our relatives and that some of you could show us where Malene Melbo lived.
My Mother, Father my husband Per and I we will try to find see and visit as much as we can.
We hope to be able to meet as many relatives as possible that would be for us a dream come true.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Med vennlig hilsen / Sincerely Anne Brynlund

Joyce Olofson

2008-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let Mom's "health update group" know that Mom died thisafternoon. She and Dad made it out to California to Tim's this pastweekend and her last big goal was to attend Jill's wedding! It was herbiggest goal! She's now dancing in heaven! We'll let you know more asplans are set. Hugs and Prayers! Cindy

Joyce and Jill Update

2008-06-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

It is time to add a few lines about how things are going with us. If Icould feel as good as I do every morning, for the rest of my life Iwould be satisfied. After a good nights sleep I feel perfect. By noonmy heart is tired and I need a nap. I have had to quit the afternoonbridge group as I am tired by that time, I have very little paincompared to most cancer patients and the Megace has shrunk the tumors sothat I have gone from 143 lbs to 117 lbs. Now I have to worry aboutgetting skinny lookig, I am getting a little of the cortisone look but Ican put up with that, it just fills in a few wrinkles. The Dr. didn'twant us to go North this spring as the tmors are surrounded by fluid andthe pressure in the plane affects that. The ride is too long withouthaving oxygen handy (which I am off right now) I do have a machne that Ican plug in, will need to look into getting a converter for the car. Weare going to go to San Francisco if I am in good enough health, for JillBensens wedding, she is 47 and a civil engineer, and we like the womanshe is getting married to. The laws in Calif have changed and now theycan have a wedding ceremony besides the dedication for the insurancesand other work benefits. We are excited to be going west, she is one ofthe special people in my life.We will take three days taveling each way,it is 13 hrs of driving and we will get out and walk each aft, exerciseseems to be the best reliefe from pain for me, we are still playingcards, dancing, eating out and of the potlucks all the time. I think theprayers on all the church chains and the personal ones have to be doinga lot of good because I was given 3 mo last Nov 5 and I am still up andat them but just not quite as fast. Joyce

2008 Reunion

2008-05-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Nornes Family
72nd Reunion
August 10, 2008
AmericInn, Fergus Falls

DATE & SITE CHANGE: At the 70th reunion it was decided to hold reunions every 3 years, but at the 71st in 2006, that decision was modified to every 2 years, thus the 2008 reunion. The site had to be changed from Alexandria because, as Connie Jeffers said, “We barely got out of there without washing the dishes” in 2006. In other words, it became too expensive. So the officers have secured a meeting room at the AmericInn in Fergus Falls for Sunday morning, August 10th.

ACTIVITIES: Saturday—For those who arrive on Saturday night, August 9th, we can gather in the AmericInn lobby for conversation and making dinner plans. The AmericInn has a swimming pool for motel guests. Bring your own snacks. If meeting sites and times can be pinned down more precisely later, I will try to contact as many people as I can with dinner reservations whom I suspect will arrive on Saturday. In any case, Connie and I will power up our cell phones (see page 2) and you can call us if you can’t find us after you arrive.
Sunday —Because the Silent Auction and Bake Sale were so successful at the last reunion and because funds might again be short, we will repeat these events on Sunday morning in the AmericInn meeting room. We need you to donate an item of your handicraft, a collectible, CD’s or DVD’s, items with sports logos, travel souvenirs, etc. Any home baked food item will be more than welcome. At the last reunion, the Scandinavian baked goods were sold within minutes, so if you can, help keep these traditions alive. Volunteers are also needed to help set all this up: see Connie Jeffers or Tammy Anderson.

DINNER: A chicken lunch will be catered by Dairy Land of Fergus Falls at a cost of $5.50 plus tax and gratuity. Please note that we will need you to bring a few desserts for dinner as well. The cost of the meeting room is $100, which means that a charge of $10 per person should get us out of there without trouble and leave a little change for postage.

MOTEL RESERVATIONS: The following motels are located near the AmericInn in a cluster off 210 just east of the 210-I-94 intersection. You will have to make your own reservation—do it immediately as reservations are tight at this late date.
AmericInn, 526 Western Ave., 218-739-3900
Best Western, 925 Western Ave., 218-739-2211
Comfort Inn, 425 Western Ave., 218-736-5787
Super 8, 2454 College Way, 218-739-3261

PROGRAM: Anything besides the usual hymns and genealogy reports has not yet been determined. If you can let me know in advance of marriages and births in your family, I would appreciate it. I would also like to take some time to discuss technology issues with knowledgeable attendees. In addition, the site for the next reunion will need to be determined.

WEB SITE OR BLOG: A Nornes Family Circle website has not yet been set up. I tried but failed. Instead I have started a Nornes blog on which I have posted all the e-mails I have received in regard to deaths and illnesses in the family over the past two years. You can access it at www.NornesFamilyCircle.blogspot.com. Down in the lower right-hand corner, you can click on “Comments” that will get back to me. The comments can also be accessed by anyone else reading the blog. The blog can be one way for us to keep in touch until something more suitable is established. To verify the addresses I do have, I will e-mail this reunion letter to you via this method as well. If you do not receive an e-mail notice, please send me your address via the blog or aanden@aol.com.

ADDRESSES: Which brings up another point. I have 200 names and addresses in my mailing list, but that number does not reflect how many I should have. I hope, however, that it is sufficient to reach at least one member of a family who will communicate this information with his/her children and/or siblings. And then I beg of you, please send me - or have them send me—their addresses — regular mail, e-mail or both. With every mailing, we waste an awful lot of postage money on envelopes returned to me with addresses no longer valid.

Anne Marie Aanden (aanden@aol.com) 952-944-1826, Cell—952-270-7039
Connie Jeffers (cjeffers@q.com) 763-434-3101, Cell—612-245-2521
Lowell Bennes (Lowell@lowellbennes.com) 218-236-9468

Latest on Joyce Olofson

2008-04-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hey all,I talked to Joyce again this morning.They are 100% staying in Arizona.I’m not sure if the word has gotten around, so here it is:Mom went to the doctors yesterday. It was not a good prognosis.Joyce’s body is no longer producing red blood cells. She was told by the doctor to make a choice with in a couple of weeks as to where she want to spend her days. The doctors were very frank.Joyce has fought prenious anemia (sorry about the spelling Corina) most of her life. But it has gotten much worse the last couple of years.Mom and Dad did go back an forth a bit, but decided to stay in Arizona. Dad felt very strongly about staying there. From the good health care and all the friends around there it makes sense. And a number of the arrangements have been made out there already.Joyce went into the doctors again today for meds to thicken her blood, again.This is the choice the two have made.Please support Mom and Dad in this decision.Mom is fairly week at this point

Ronald Dyer

2008-03-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

From Marsha Dyer Waind

I received news yesterday that my brother, Ron passed away in his home. He has lived on Farm Island lake in Minnesota since Sandy passed away. He was found by one of his close friends after not showing up for the paper at the local store. Ron has been having some issues with diabetes and not always the most attentive to his health-ruled as a cardiac arrest, probably occurring sometime Monday night-Tuesday morning. Ron has 1 daughter, Shelly (yep, named after the town) Argenbright, who has 2 children, and 1 step-daughter, Judy Christy, who lives in San Diego. The body is being cremated and a memorial service will be around April 26. Date yet to finalized as to when girls can come home. I spent the evening with Mom, who received the news with stoic reality. She is doing well soon to be 89. Interested to going's on and active as she can be.

Joyce Olofson

2008-03-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I went to the Dr on Mon and insisted on having the blood markers doneone more time, Medicare will not pay for it unless you are on chemo andso no other ins will take up the secondary pay, I decided I had to knowbecause I feel so much better than when we came down here, themedications are doing wonders, I now weigh 120 lbs, am ravenously hungryall the time but have pep , dance play cards, cook , have company andfeel normal with no dripping bladder any more, I was getting up everyhour all night long and it was exhausting. The markers are 0-30 normal,30-36 reoccurance of cancer, and my markers when I came down here were507. This time when they took it 4 months later it is 332, that is a 1/3reduction and I am elated . I just hope I can keep going in thisdirection, Tim and my Dr really didn't want me to do this again theywere afraid that it would be hgh and I would be depressed over it, bothof them said "Do you really want to know" well, yes, I am still bossyou know!

Roger - Recovery

2008-03-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

I just talked with Mom an hour ago and Roger woke last nite in a confused and agitated state(dosen`t recognize people) and didn`t know where he was and wanted to go home. This has continued this morning when she arrived at the hospital and is still the going on. The Doctors warned that this might happen but Mom thought that if it didn`t happen yesterday that it wouldn`t happen. This apparently is not the case and still falls into the normal range of symptoms. It could last up to three days? He also is running a slight fever and a little gravelly chest. Physically his heart is doing fine and all the tubes in his neck are removed. He ate solid food yesterday but they have since went back to water and I assume tube feeding. He will be in Intensive Care for at least another day. Steve Randall stopped in and Noah took Mom out to eat tonight. Linda will visit tomorrow. Mom seems to be able to drive the short distance from the hotel to the hospital on residental streets? We pray and hope for the best. jeff

Roger Nornes

2008-03-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

Roger is doing fine. It is 8 pm and Mom and Jackie are with a good friend Paul having supper at a Perkins near the hotel. This morning Dad went into surgery around 7:30 am and after taking the veins for his heart they put him on the bypass machine around 10:30am and replaced the valve (I think it was a pig valve, the long lasting kind) and did a double bypass for good mearsure. At around 2:30 they unhooked him and got his heart going again. They have seen him many times and he responds by letting them know he realizes they are in the room. He will be in intensive care and only time will tell how long recovery will take (they say 7-10 days) but I`m releaved that everything went well so far. We all know that usually these things go well but I don`t want Dad to be one of those "statistics". It`s kind of like holding your breath and now that things seem to be going well it`s time to exhale. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and concerns it`s all greatly appreciated. Mom stayed with Dad overnight in the hospital and had a hard time seeing him off to surgery. Jackie has been super and is keeping me informed which I am greatfull. I would think that they will be tired and hope they get a good night sleep. Do not hesitate to call me anytime for an update 218-687-4252 I feel very blessed that things are going well. love jeff and family

Recent Family Deaths

2008-03-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

AnnaBelle Lecy, Floyd's wife, passed away Feb. 22 in Merit Care Hospital, Fargo. Her memorial service was Feb. 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead.

Sylvia Gullickson of Fertile passed away this past weekend. More information later.

Tim Anderson

2008-02-28T12:45:00.001-08:00

Another one to pray for in our family, I am doing fine but our son Timhad a stroke on Monday night of this week, it was of short duration butdid kill off a spot in his brain, they are still running tests and won'tknow the results until Monday night, it affected his left side of thebody and his vision, we think it is what has been going on for the lastfour years with the severe migraines and the falling. Right now he isfeeling ok and they went out for valentine supper after leaving the hosptesting area. They have put him on a medication and will continue tolook for a reason for this problem, I'm afraid it is an Andersonproblem, their circulations don't seem to do well

AnnaBelle Lecy

2008-02-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

I just got a call from Floyd Lecy who lives right down the street fromus in Mhd. He was raised in my home as a brother so of course I alwaysthought of his wife as my sister in law, she died this morning at 3 ;30,had fallen and broken 5 ribs and her kidneys and bp just shut down andher breathing stopped regardless of her being in an o2 tent. The kidshad both been called home the day before when she got bad and was inintensive care and they were with her when she died. they are planning afuneral for the coming weekend because the grandkids will come fromCalif and Mpls, Debbi is a non working mom and will stay with Floyduntil everything is taken care of and the he will go home to Calif withher for the rest of the winter. Leonard is going to try and get a ticketon Allegience to go to the funeral, I am not allowed to fly in apressurized cabin right now with the ca tumers but Im feeling fine rightnow and would really like for him to be there, Floyd and he were suchbuddies.

Newest e-mail from Joyce Olofson

2008-01-08T12:02:00.001-08:00

To answer a question about how I'm feeling, this is my week--Today,bridge, wrote part of my book,tomorrow-leader of the bible study atcircle, wed- Erskine bkft, book discussion, writing group, hospice andmed man, and blood test, dancing in eve. Thrs, bridge in am and also inaft, Fri bridge and dancing at night, a breakfast group on Sat morning also dancing on Sat night, Sun church and a morning bkft groupafterward, then in the eve we play bridge and have supper with Karen andEd Wingate, one week at our house an the next at hers--I don'tunderstand why I don't feel ill, the tests were so horrible but I don'treally feel too much dif than usual, at 75 I am allowed to have a fewaches and pains. Cindy just went home yesterday, she had been here for3 weeks this time and she does all the work when she is here, makes mefeel special, and a big thank you to Steve for letting her come. I am sothankful that I can do all the usual things, hope it lasts a long time

Newest e-mail from Joyce Olofson

2008-01-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

Joyce Olofson Update

2007-12-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

The hospice nurse comes at noon very Friday and today she had good newsfor me, I am on an anti-cancer drug that wipes out all the estrogen inmy body and we were hoping to slow down the growth of the tumers andactually when they measured me today I was the smallest that I have beensince coming down here so it must have kicked in and I am not having badside effects so that is lucky. I have no pain and that is wonderful, wego dancing, took the two grandchildren with us last Fri night and theyhad fun, took pics with the band, Bob just graduated from NDSU onFriday beforehe came and Jeni is a Sr at Concordia, they have alwaysbeen like a sister and brother and had a very good time during vac.Tims were too plus all the rest and Cindy is still here so we arecleaning! Both of the extra houses we used are now back in shape! Normanand Brigitte (Leonards cousin who lives down here in the winter) went toa later church service than the rest of us on Christmas Eve so she hadthe dishes done when we got back home--what a gal!

Joyce Olofson - medical report

2007-12-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

It was so much fun to have Morey and Sandy , as well as all of the restof the family out here, we loved every minute, have to do a littleediting tho, I have never been on estrogen, they are giving me ananti-cancer drug that blocks any estrogen you get from foods you eat,and also any that my body would produce,they feel that cancers feed onestrogen so want to limit it as much as they can, that is why there aresome side effects from this med, I have to take it twice a day, the onlyside effect that has bothered me is the heartburn and they think thatthey can give me somthing to help that--another pill, I am alreadytaking so many that I have to have a list to make sure I am taking themon the right time of day, Guess I didn't talk about my funeral becauseit is old stuff to me, Jim and I planned our funerals when he had hisfirst heart attack, it was so nice to just hand the list to the ministerand say, "take care of this." we will have a small funeral here in ourlocal churche's small room at the main church in Mesa if it happens whenwe are down here and then have a memorial service in Trinity in Moorheadwhere we have our main membership, for our families and friends up therelater in the spring when Leonard goes north. Tim has located the musicfor me and will put it on a disk because everyone down here travels somuch that it is hard to ask anyone to sing, although I do have a coupleof favorite singers who are friends and after the holidays I might seewhat they think about doing it. I feel so good right now that it seemsimposible that I will not last the winter but I have to be realistic andsay that I have not gotten very good time limits from my Dr.s. We feelso lucky to get so much support from our families that I just cant getover the love from everyone.

Joyce Olofson

2007-11-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the Dr tonight after the Pet scan results and theyare glowing all over my body, think I played glow worm on the piano onetime too many. The Dr has given me a time line of less than a year andso we will make the very most of the time we have left together. Theblood markers showed very high cancer markers and this is the 4thopinion we have had, an oncologist and radiologist up north and anotherset down here in Az. and they all agree that my odds are 99-1. So therewill be no treatment of any kind. Please share this news with friendsand family if you know they do not have e-mail--the calling is overwhelming to me. Lots of love to all of you, Joyce

Dick Jeffers

2007-09-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

To read about Dick's funeral, go to aanden.blogspot.com and read the last two blogs as well as the one on anniversaries.

Deaths in the Family

2007-08-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

Rosemarie Anderson Kohler's husband Al died July 31, 2007, of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and a short battle with pneumonia and heart arrhythmias. He had been ill for some time. There were no services. He was cremated and his urn placed in a crypt in Oceanside, CA.

Richard Jeffers, husband of Connie Nornes, took his own life this morning, August 30, 2007. I will write further about this when I have more information.

Genealogy Website

2007-08-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

I came across a new web genealogy site on which I can transcribe the entire genealogy and all family members can easily access it without contacting me through this blog. Anyway, I'm going to try it. It will take me all winter to type in all the information, but I'll start it and see if it's worth the effort. The URL is http://www.geni.com/.

Reunion History

2007-08-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

In 1953 the first family history and genealogy was published - genealogies and obituaries dittoed and put together at the Climax High School.

In 1959, the 25th reunion, a special program featured movies of previous reunions. One hundred twenty-five were in attendance. The 50th reunion in 1983 featured commemorative T-shirts and the baptism of Daniel Zerrot. The program consisted of historical skits of Bernhard's and Bendik's immigration and early pioneer lives. Attendance was 167 including the Norneses from New York.

Because of dissatisfaction with the upkeep of the Farmer's Union Camp facilities, the site was moved to the Fertile Community Center in 1991 and then to Moorhead's Gooseberry Falls Park in 1982 with catered dinners rather than potluck. The day was changed to Saturday to accommodate attendees returning to their homes on Sunday. In 1996 we moved to Elks Point Park on Wall Lake at Fergus Falls. This site seemed to meet all criteria with camping spaces, a shelter, etc. With families now spread all over the world, we were pleased in 1997 to have an attendance of 95 people.

For the 70th reunion we changed back to Sunday and rented space in an Alexandria motel.

A newsletter has been published twice a year since 1987 to maintain communications among the family members. An extensive family history and genealogy was published in 1998 - From the White Islands to the Red River Valley. More genealogical information has been accumulated and the book updated.

Reunion History - Beginnings

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"On the 46th wedding anniversary of Bernhard and Petra Nornes, July 8, 1934, the Nornes families met for a reunion at the Nornes home. ... The families enjoyed a picnic dinner at noon. A table was set for the wedding couple and Bendik and Sina Nornes. In the afternoon the men and boys enjoyed a kitten ball game while the ladies visited, compared babies, administered cod liver oil, orange juice, etc.... It was further decided that the head of each family make out a history of his family to be recorded by the Secretary. Also that all grownups pay ten cent dues and children five cents. This would take care of any expenses that might occur."

Thus began the series of family reunions that have continued for 74 years. The families met every summer at a family member's home. Cars were not always so reliable in the Thirties, so in 1939 Maurice Bursheim secured a school bus that he drove with all the Winger families as passengers to the reunion at Bernhard's. Lunch and program committees were appointed during the early years. But the year they met at Hermodsons', Irene and Agnes cooked cream cans full of mashed potatoes and meatballs for the entire group. All events took place outdoors, and they were never rained out until 1953.

In 1954 they began to hold the reunions at the Farmer's Union Camp on Lake Sarah at Erskine, and the meals were potluck. One hundred and three family members attended the first reunion there. The change was necessary because farm kitchens and plumbing were not adequate to take care of the growing numbers. The Camp was an ideal place because it had dormitories where family members could stay overnight. There was an assembly room with a piano, and a large kitchen. Those who stayed overnight enjoyed a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning organized and supervised by George.

Until 1991 the reunions were held on Sunday. They were formally organized with four officers and a treasury. The program opened with the raising of the Norwegian and American flags and singing of the national anthems. Uncle Jacob had presented the family with a Norwegian flag upon his visit here from Norway in 1937. A family member would give devotions or a sermonette, hymns were sung, and family members sang solos or played piano solos. Sometimes the men formed a chorus and sang, sometimes the women. With all the musical talent in the family, there was always someone to perform. The hymn singing was special, with the entire family as a grand choir, Norah accompanying, playing any hymn the group wanted to sing. After a potluck dinner, the men played softball - marrieds against the singles - and women visited. After an afternoon lunch of cake, pie, and ice cream, everyone went home.

In 1939 the organization was in the red. They owed Helmer $2.50. The next year they collected $10.15, paid Helmer back, and spent $6.50 on ice cream. At no time did the treasury hold more than $10 until the late Forties. During the war special collections were taken up to send food packages to the aunts and uncle in Skudeneshavn. In 1947 they voted to send a bedspread as a wedding present to their cousin Conrad Bjornsen in Stavanger.

Officers, etc.

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NORNES FAMILY CIRCLE

PRESIDENT: Lowell Bennes, lowell@lowellbennes.com.
VICE PRES.: Jacalyn Nornes, jnornes@emily.net
SECRETARY: Connie Jeffers, dconjeffers@juno.com.
TREASURER: Maren Ogdie, aogdie@ties2.net.

ADDRESSES: Shari Nornes, shari@norneshq.com.

GENEALOGIST: Anne Marie Aanden, aanden@aol.com .

NEXT REUNION: August 10-11, 2008, Site yet to be determined.

Back copies of the newsletter, Nornes News Notes, can be obtained from Anne Marie as well as orders placed for the history book, From the White Islands to the Red River Valley, $35.

To report a marriage or a new birth, e-mail aanden@aol.com or click comment in lower right-hand corner.

Nornes Blog/web site

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I tried to set up a web site on GeoCitiesYahoo but had no luck. I decided I could do just as well in a blog because readers can use the comment link to get information to me or the officers. Now I have to figure out how I can edit the template for this and I can get going.