Mavis Elenora Norgaard

VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTE

VIEW SERVICE FOLDER

Mavis Elenora Allan Bortnem Norgaard, age 87, of Luverne, formerly of Tyler, MN, died on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society-Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at the United Church of Garretson, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Summit Hill Cemetery, rural Garretson.

Mavis was born on January 14, 1931, to Sidney and Elenora (Reemts) Allan. She lived with her family on the Alex Allan homestead which was near the site of the Palisade (the first village that built by the pioneers in the area). She grew up loving the beautiful scenery and learning what the ancestors had accomplished. She attended Palisade, Roadside, and Garretson schools. She was confirmed in the Evangelical & Reformed Lutheran Church in Garretson. She was active in her beloved church as a member of the choir, Sunday School superintendent and teacher, and dining room hostess for many occasions. Her parents, church relatives, and friends were very important to her.

In 1953, Mavis and Elmer Bortnem were united in marriage and unto this union two children were born: Randy Duane and Kathleen Marlene. After their divorce, Mavis and her two children resided with her parents in Garretson until 1970 when they moved to Tyler, Minnesota, where she married Keith Norgaard. Mavis will be buried in her hometown cemetery outside of Garretson along with her ancestors, relatives, and all the church members she grew up with. She is home once again.

While she was married to Keith, she attended the Danebod Lutheran Church. She was active in the choir, altar society, served at funerals, and was a communion assistant and greeter. She learned how to bake aebleskiver in the old power house. Her German coffee cake was not allowed as only Danish coffee cake was served. She worked at the Marshall Cemetery for eight years, and also did wallpapering, painting, weekly house cleaning, rosemaling, and aiding the elderly. She also volunteered in the beauty shop at the nursing home. While in Garretson, she was employed in the doctor’s office which she greatly enjoyed. Her life was very busy as she worked with both her parents and enjoyed the many gettogethers they had.

While growing up near the Palisades, Mavis walked to school and enjoyed the fresh early mornings and sounds of the early birds singing. After rains, water would flow through the ravine and pasture and over the rocks. She enjoyed watching the river run and it only took a few minutes to walk to the river to fish. The beauty of working with her parents; the wonderful sounds of nature; being with her relatives, neighbors, and friends; her very good school teachers; and her church were the most beautiful memories of her life. She was never alone as her God was always with her.

Mavis is survived by her children: Randy (Karen Dagel) Bortnem, Tyler, MN, and Kathy (Dale) Feekes, Luverne; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and a sister, Marlene Farrand. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Keith Norgaard; a precious grandson; and a brother, Duane Allan.