Norbert Reinhold Liebelt, 90, Minot, formerly of Sawyer, died Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in a Minot nursing home.
Norbert was born July 18, 1921, on the family farm near Sawyer, the son of Reinhold and Pauline (Steffan) Liebelt. He was raised on the farm in Sawyer Township of Ward County and attended Sawyer Public Schools, prior to graduating from Sawyer High School in 1940. He assisted with the operation of the family farm and then attended Minot State Teachers College for one year and returned to the farm south of Sawyer.
Norbert was united in marriage to Helen Johnson on June 10, 1943, at Bismarck. Following their marriage they lived in Sawyer, before moving to Minot in 1967. Throughout the years, he farmed south of Sawyer until 2004. Helen died Dec. 31, 2005. Norbert had entered Edgewood Vista in 2006. He and Helen had enjoyed their many winters in McAllen, Texas.
Norbert was an active attendant of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Brethren Church, Minot. While living in Sawyer, they had been members of the Sawyer Mennonite Church and had served with the Sawyer Mennonite Disaster service. He had also been a former member of the Sawyer Township Board and Sawyer School Board. Norbert enjoyed playing the musical saw, sang with the Nodakords for several years and loved to fish and travel around the United States.
His loving family includes: children, N. Vance (Linda) Liebelt, Minot; Diana (Larry) Halden, Minot; Nina (Bruce) Simonson, Carriere, Miss.; grandchildren, Velvet (Jim) Schmidt, Layne (Tammy) Liebelt, Heather (Paul) Croke, Dustin (Kristen) Halden and Kishori Simonson; great-grandchildren, Darby and Zac Schmidt, Kayla and Austin Liebelt, Brielle, Lauren and Carston Croke, Mia and Brooks Halden; sister-in-law, Verna Liebelt, rural Minot; and several nieces and nephews.
Norbert was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 62 years, Helen; sisters, Leona Orluck and Annetta Schilki; and brothers, Arthur and Walter Liebelt.
Funeral service: Saturday, March 31, 2012, at 2 p.m., in Our Redeemer's Lutheran Brethren Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Today, March 30, from 3 to 7 p.m., in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: Are preferred to the Our Redeemer's Gathering Grounds Fund.
Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).
