Family Reunion 2012

Obituary - John Aanden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christopher and Julie Bennes

Tate and Skyler Smith

Joe and Joy Johnson and friend on the left.

Pictures - 2009 - Hermodson

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

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

Stina Marie Breckenridge and Grandpa Myron Bursheim

Nat Bursheim

Mark Bursheim

Pictures - 2009 - Pearl and Bob Arras Family

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

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

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

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

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

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

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