SKOGERBOE, Norma C. (1912-2004)

SKOGERBOE, GUIDINGER, BRIGHT, SYNOVEC, LINDSAY, PETERSON, BISBEY, SUBY, LONG, THOMPSON, BENIKE, SPELLACY, KNIPPENBERG, DONEY, OTIS, CHRISTIANSON, KELIVEG, PALMER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 3/11/2016 at 13:58:42

Norma C. Skogerboe, 92

Norma Skogerboe, 92, of Forest City, died on Saturday, August 21, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 27, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Rev. Lee Laaveg officiating. Burial was in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City.

Norma, the only child of James "Earl" and Frances (Guidinger) Stewart, was born on March 6, 1912 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Norma was baptized in the Catholic faith and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, Minnesota on May 21, 1939. She was raised by her single mother, her Guidinger grandparents and her few aunts and uncles after her parents divorced when she was four years old. She lived her childhood years in the Black Hills area, attending elementary school in Beulah, Wyoming. She played girls basketball for the Sundance High School. Her winning team traveled to the State Tournament in Gillette, Wyoming, two at a time, via a small airplane. She graduated with honors receiving a special Teaching Certificate in the spring of 1930.

She was united in marriage with Obed Justin Skogerboe on August 12, 1930, in the Deadwood, South Dakota courthouse and returned to Obed's home near Blue Earth, Minnesota, where they ran Obed's mother's farm. Shortly after their oldest son, Rodney was born in 1931, they moved to Sundance, Wyoming and ranched several years before once again returning to Blue Earth, where they both took jobs with Schwan's Ice Cream Company. Her second son, "Chuck" and daughter, Zeida were born during that period of time.

Obed was hired as a foreman on Moore's Vegetable Farm and Norma worked alongside him whenever she could arrange for child care. In early 1940 the family moved to a farm west of Forest City and began their lifetime in farming. Norma became active in the community, including taking her turn driving their family car to bus her own and neighborhood children to school. Their youngest son, Dennis "Mike" was born in 1944.

Norma was an ambitious, hard working person who enjoyed being with people. Besides raising her family and assisting with the farming, she worked additional jobs in Forest City. She clerked for Pinckney Pharmacy, Federated Store, Forest City Bakery, Coast To Coast and also cooked for the Forest City Community School. Norma and Obed worked as a team to manage the Forest City Golf and Country Club for 12 years, then managed the Winnebago River Oaks Clubhouse for the next 10 years. Norma was a strong and caring role model for her family and friends. She had an outgoing friendly personality with an easy sense of humor and a contagious hearty laugh. She was known for her fantastic cooking ability and her signature pies. She enjoyed sewing for her daughter and granddaughters and crocheted beautiful keepsakes for her family. Norma seldom complained and never gave up when she was faced with her many challenging health issues. She and her husband Obed unselfishly opened their home to her mother who lived with them for 44 years. She sent annual Christmas and birthday cards and gifts to each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren up until her last illness in 2004. Her quiet faith and determination helped her to survive the early death of several members of her beloved family.

Norma and Obed joined Immanuel Lutheran's "old" church in 1940. She was active in the women's groups and celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in August 1980. She was a member of the Ellington Township Community Club, Winnebago County American Legion Auxiliary and the Kum Along Club. She enjoyed volunteering her time answering the telephone at the Good Samaritan Center and taking friends to their out of town doctor appointments. When Obed became critically ill in September 1980, they retired from farming and moved to Forest City. Norma lovingly provided attentive round the clock home care for her husband until his death in 1981. She moved into the Town Square Apartments and with courage continued her full active life. She moved to the Forest City Good Samaritan Center in July 2004 after receiving a serious injury from a fall.

She is survived by three of her children and spouses, 10 grandchildren and spouses and 25 great-grandchildren. They are Rodney and Ruth Skogerboe; Scott and Dianne Skogerboe, David, Paul and Jared; Karin and Alan Bright, Joseph and Jackson, all from Fort Collins, Colorado; Kristen and Rob Synovec, Thomas and Johanna of Seattle, Washington; Lauren Lindsay and Jamie Cecelia of Eustis, Florida; Andrea Lindsay of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Chuck and Susie Skogerboe and Jeffrey of Spirit Lake; Dirk and Roxanne Skogerboe and Danielle of Faribault, Minnesota; Jed and Eileen Skogerboe, Olivia, Elizabeth, and Nile of Spirit Lake; Mark and Jacci Skogerboe, Anna, Amy, T. J. and Jesse of Algona; Zeida and Richard W. Peterson, Julie and Roger Bisbey, Jessica, Paul, Erica and Scott, all of Rochester, Minnesota; Sallie and Tom Suby-Long, Rachel, Sarah, Rebecca of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Robb Suby and Russell Thompson of Johnston. Also surviving are seven step-grandchildren and spouses and 12 step-great-grandchildren. They include; Scott and Dolly Peterson; Lori and Archie Benike, Joseph and Ethan of Minneapolis, Minn.; Susan and Greg Spellacy, Aaron and Joshua; Thomas and Kelly Peterson, "Zander" and Riley of Mankato, Minnesota. Also, Christine Knippenberg, Eric and Leslie; Bill and Lecky Knippenberg, Andrew and Christopher; John and Jane Knippenberg, Peter and Ross; two brothers-in-law and their wives, Robert and Neibi Skogerboe of Merline, Oregon and Donald and Margie Skogerboe of Forest City; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Obed; son, "Mike" who was killed in Vietnam in 1969; infant granddaughter, Molly Ann Suby in 1964; infant great-grandson, Matthew Doney in 1989; son-in-law, Donald Suby in 1993; daughter-in-law, Wanda (Will) Skogerboe in 1993; sisters-in-law, Malinda Otis, Anna Christianson, Nora Keliveg and Selma Thompson; brothers-in-law, John, Palmer, Vemer and Reuben Skogerboe.

© 2004 Forest City Summit,, Published September 1, 2004, Page B-5