Norma Johanson

Norma R. Johanson, 68 of Webster, ND passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2019 at Eventide Devils Lake Care Center in the loving care of her family and Altru Hospice. 

Funeral Services for Norma will be held on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake, ND with Reverend Reuben Schnaidt officiating. Norma will be laid to rest in the Bergen Cemetery, rural Starkweather, ND at a later date.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, September 8^th from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 5:00 p.m. with Reverend Robert Buechler officiating.  Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Norma Keck was born on June 6, 1951 the daughter of Glenn and Dolores (Mikkelson) Keck at Devils Lake, ND. She was a baptized and confirmed member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church.  Norma was reared and educated in Devils Lake, sang in the grade school choir and graduated from Central High School with the class of 1969.  During her high school years, Norma worked at the Dairy Queen, 2 Spot Café, Tiny Tiger and S & L Clothing.

Norma was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Lyle Johanson on June 21, 1969 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. They were the 3^rd generation couple on both sides to be married at St. Olaf.

Shortly after marriage, Lyle entered the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Germany and Norma and their son Troy were able to be with him.  They returned home to the Lake Region and were the parents of 4 sons.  She was a devoted mother and was so proud of how they were now fine young men.  Norma was employed at Leever’s County Market for 27 years, retiring in May of 2010 for health reasons. 

Norma so enjoyed having fun at her Wood Lake cabin with Lyle, her children, grandchildren and friends. She liked her campers and motorhome and enjoyed traveling around, never going too far from home.  On many warm summer evenings, you would see Norma and Lyle out and about in their Mustang Convertible. 

Norma was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church.

Norma had health problems that seemed to progress rapidly the past few months. Her knee surgeries led to heart problems which required the placement of a pacemaker on her birthday, June 6, 2019.  She had a beautiful 50^th Wedding Anniversary celebration on June 15, 2019.  She had such a fun time with her four boys and doing Karaoke with Lyle, singing Elvira, but doing the “Elnorma” version.  Norma had a heart attack on July 2, 2019 and was in ICU for eleven days.  On the good days, Norma and Lyle had their “notebook” visits and remembered all the good times they had together and it was Lyle’s chance to let Norma know how blessed he felt to have such a wonderful loving wife. 

We can’t imagine our lives without Norma, but we will hold her in our memories and hearts forever.

Norma is survived by her loving family. Her husband Lyle; sons Troy Johanson (fiancé Kaycee Olson), Devils Lake, Steven (Sharon) Johanson, Devils Lake, Brian (Lori) Johanson, Edmore, ND and Eric (Beth) Johanson, Bismarck, ND; eight grandchildren (Troy) Jessica and Brianna, (Steven) Riley and Kiara, (Brian) Brandon, Jacob, MiKara, (Eric) Torius, (Kaycee) Abbey; great grandson Kaleb; brother Dwight (Penny) Keck also Devils Lake; in-laws Donna (Karl) Klemetsrud, Hastings, MN and Bette (Robert) Stieglitz, Fargo, ND; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and father-in-law and mother-in-law Harfred and Alice Johanson.