Norman J. Alme

Milnor

Norman Jame Alme passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Four Seasons Health Care in Forman, ND, surrounded by family, friends, and the caring staff of Four Seasons.

A Prayer Service will be held at St. Arnold’s Catholic Church in Milnor at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, September 24. On Thursday, family visitation will begin at 5 PM at St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Drake, ND, followed by a Rosary Vigil at 7 PM. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, September 26, at St. Margaret Mary’s, with lunch at the Drake Knights of Columbus Hall and burial at Balfour Cemetery.

Born on September 9, 1937, in Drake, ND, Norm was the eighth of Joe and Betsy Alme’s eleven children. He graduated from Drake High School in 1955 and studied engineering at NDSU before returning home to help run Alme Implement Co. when his father became ill. In 1959, he married Alice Mergel, and in 1969 they moved their growing family to a farm near Balfour. In 1986, they relocated to northern Illinois in pursuit of financial stability, but Norm’s deep love for North Dakota eventually brought him back. He worked with Knights of Columbus Insurance and later at Bobcat in Gwinner, where he remained until retirement. He also worked part-time at Dakota Valley Electric. In 1996, Norm married LaVonne Foertsch, and together they made their home in Milnor. Diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2018, he lived his remaining years with humor, strength, and grace.

Despite the nickname “Stormin’ Norman,” Norm was more gentle than fiery. The name first stuck when a customer at Alme Implement quipped that whenever he saw someone driving ten miles under the speed limit, he assumed it was “Stormin’ Norman.” Norm loved the irony–it fit his sense of humor perfectly–and he wore the nickname with pride. To the Knights of Columbus, he was “Stormin’ Norman” because if he volunteered you for something, there was no saying no. At Bobcat, he became a beloved volunteer ambassador, giving factory tours to students and state officials alike. In retirement, he crafted and gifted countless birdhouses, delivering and installing them with care. Known for his dry wit and storytelling, Norm could draw you into a tale before delivering a punchline with his signature smile. His grandchildren knew him as the kind of grandpa who could light up a whole room with laughter–and they, too, called him “Stormin’ Norman” with love.

Norm’s Catholic faith was a quiet but steady foundation in his life. He never missed a Sunday Mass and rarely missed daily Mass during Lent. He raised his family in the Church, often arriving five minutes late but always sitting near the front pew. The Knights of Columbus were a lifelong commitment; he was a founding member of the Drake and Forman Councils and held leadership roles with the Lidgerwood Council. Even as dementia progressed, Norm’s warmth and gratitude never dimmed. He said “I love you” more freely, gave more hugs, and often added, “Let’s get together again soon.”

Norm is survived by his wife, LaVonne (Milnor); children Nathan (Sheri) Alme, Kenneth (Crystal) Alme, Melinda (Michael) Hutchison, Stephanie (Brian) MacDonald, and Steven (Jeanne Berns) Alme; son-in-law Rich Tjardes; former wife Alice Alme; brothers Tom (Pat) and Joe (Joyce); sister-in-law Colleen Alme; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Betsy; daughter Marianne Tjardes; stepson Bradley Foertsch; grandson Jacob Foertsch; great-grandson Myles Ronke; brothers Melvin, Arnold, Robert, Dennis, and Russel; and sisters Mildred Canevello, Laura Welsh, and Eileen Wiper.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Four Seasons Health Care in Forman, ND, where Norm received compassionate and loving care. Norm was also a decades-long volunteer for the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Campaign, which benefits individuals with intellectual disabilities. Please give generously during the Tootsie Roll Campaign and remember “Stormin’ Norman,” smiling in his Knights of Columbus bib, arms full of Tootsie Rolls, sharing joy with all.

Arrangements are with the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake, ND.

Online condolences may be left at www.nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, September 26, 2025.