Norma Nordmark

Norma Nordmark, 85,

of Fargo, ND (formerly,

Bottineau, ND), passed

away at Bethany Retire-

ment Living, Fargo, on

Sunday, May 31, 2020.

Due to the current health

crisis impacting our coun-

try, a private service will

be held in the coming

days to honor Norma’s

life. Expressions of sym-

pathy during this time can

be left on the condolences

page available with the

obituary on our website.

We also encourage you to

view the video tribute

and/or webcast of the ser-

vice that may be available.

Arrangements have been

entrusted to Joseph Vertin

and Sons Funeral Home,

Breckenridge.

Norma was born on July

4, 1934, to Ida and Albert

Vikan at rural Bottineau,

ND. She attended grade

school at Vinje 45 and

furthered her education at

Bottineau High School,

graduating as valedictori-

an of her class in 1952.

In 1953, she started

nurses training at St. An-

drews School of Nursing.

In 1954, she married Mar-

lin Nordmark. They lived

in Bottineau where Marlin

operated Westland Oil

Service Station. Norma’s

love for nursing urged her

to return to nurses train-

ing, which she attended

until illness forced her to

quit.

In 1956, Norma and

Marlin moved to Mohall,

ND, where they operated

another propane business

for Westland Oil. Norma

kept the books and was

the office manager of this

successful business for 28

years. I t was during his

time that Marlin trained

with the 77th Special

Forces of the U.S. Army at

Fort Bragg, NC, and

served in Germany. His

brother, Jim, and Norma

managed the propane

business. She helped farm

during Marlin’s overseas

tour and continued help-

ing after his return home.

Norma also worked at the

Renville County ASCS

and the Renville County

Soil Conservation Service.

In Mohall, Norma was

an active member of Zion

Lutheran Church, teach-

ing Sunday school and

summer vacation Bible

School. She also partici-

pated in Bible studies and

circles. She served as

secretary for Zion Luth-

eran Church Ladies Aid.

In Minot, Norma taught

Sunday school and vaca-

tion Bible school for

several years and was

treasurer of St. Mark’s

Lutheran Women’s Mis-

sionary League. When

Marlin was elected secre-

tary of the North Dakota

LP Gas Association, Nor-

ma served as secretary,

which was her role most

of the time in Mohall,

where she assisted

Marlin’s bookkeeper and

office manager for the

propane business before

the age of computers.

Many high school girls as-

sisted as part of the

work-study program at

Mohall Public School.

Norma and Marlin wel-

comed two foster children

(sisters) into their home in

1966. Connie (12) and

Debbie (8) Kotzer, became

part of their family.

Norma and Marlin di-

vorced in 1985. Norma

then moved to Minot and

studied at Minot State

College, graduating with

her BS in General Studies

at the age of 77. She then

moved to Twin Town Vil-

la in Breckenridge, MN, to

be closer to Debbie and

Connie, who lived in

Wahpeton.

She became a resident

of St. Francis Home in

2012, where she contin-

ued to recover from a

stroke that occurred dur-

ing a craniotomy in 1974.

In her younger days,

Norma liked to garden

and cook, though reading

historical and romance

novels were always her

favorite past time. She

also enjoyed writing

letters and studying histo-

ry. Above all, Norma

loved spending time with

her family and friends,

especially her grandchil-

dren and

great-grandchildren.

Norma will be greatly

missed by her daughters,

Debbie (Glenn) Johnson of

Fargo, ND, and Connie

(Tim) Vosberg of Lake,

SD; six grandchildren; 14

great-grandchildren. She

was preceded in death by

her parents, Albert and

Ida Vikan; sisters, Ina

Oelshlager, Phyllis Nel-

son, and Audrey Woods;

brothers, Victor Kenneth,

Harry, and Harlen Vikan;

and ex-husband, Marlin

Nordmark.