Randy Earl Norby

Randy Earl Norby, 71,

of Rolette, North Dakota

died Saturday, November

23rd, 2019 at the Trinity

Medical Center in Minot

after battling Parkinson’s

disease courageously for

many years. Randy was

born May 11, 1948 in

Crosby, North Dakota to

Trygve and Olga (John-

son) Norby. He was raised

on a wheat and cattle farm

near Alkabo. It was here

that he developed his

strong work ethic, deep

sense of community, and

caring spirit. He graduat-

ed from Grenora Public

School, the class of 1966.

He completed his educa-

tion at Minot State Col-

lege earning his bachelor’s

degree in Education in

1970.

Following college, Ran-

dy moved to Rolette,

North Dakota where he

had accepted a position

with the Public-School

system. This was the be-

ginning of 44 years of

teaching and coaching all

at Rolette Public School.

He taught social studies,

physical education and

coached basketball, track,

football, and baseball at

various points in his

career. Randy had a true

passion and gift for work-

ing with young people. He

had a special way of

motivating his students.

Soon after moving to

Rolette, he met and mar-

ried his devoted wife to

be, Joan Deutsch. Togeth-

er they built a beautiful

life together with their

four children.

Randy was an avid

sports fan and enjoyed

passing along this excite-

ment to his students, kids,

and grandkids. He spent

many hours on the court,

on the field, in the stands,

and in the backyard

developing a sense of

knowledge and character

in generations of young

people. Some of the

greatest joys in his life

came from watching

young people succeed and

grow into adults.

Randy is survived by

his wife, Joan; children,

Mindy (Mark) Heinz, Ali-

cia Norby (Erdal Diri),

Sarah (Chad) Pankratz,

and Matthew (Chelsey)

Norby; 12 grandkids,

Drew, Brody, Carter, Shel-

by, Bridget, Rosalyn, Clay,

Sadie, Hope, Sibelle,

Dylan, and Mila and one

new grandchild coming in

January, Case Earl; sister,

Sharon (Gerald) Larsen;

bother, Carlyle (Gloria)

Norby; numerous nieces

and nephews; other rela-

tives and friends.

Memorials in his

memory are preferred to

the Michael J. Fox Foun-

dation for Parkinson’s

Research – Grand Central

Station, P.O. Box 4777,

New York, NY 10163

(plannedgiving@michaeljf

ox.org) or the Rolette Pub-

lic School.

A Memorial Mass of

Christian burial will be

held on Saturday, Nov.

30th at 11:00 a.m. in the

Rolette School gymnasi-

um. Father T.T. Paulraj,

Celebrant

A gathering of family &

friends will begin at 7:00

p.m. Friday with a rosary,

vigil prayers & sharing of

memories held in the

Scared Heart Catholic

Church – 505 Main in

Rolette. Fellowship will

continue Saturday for one

hour prior to the 11:00

a.m. service at the school.

Arrangements with the

Anderson Funeral Home

of Rugby. Online registry:

www.funeralsbyanderson.

com