Norma Yvonne (Olson) DORENKAMP

DORENKAMP, OLSON, BAKKE, ESCHER, JOHNSON, GREFSTAD, RIGGAN, CANNELLA, LARSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/18/2011 at 14:11:18

August 5, 1936 --- August 15, 2011

MASON CITY — Norma Yvonne Dorenkamp, 75, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce Ave., with the Rev. Paul Collier officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Norma was born Aug. 5, 1936, in Bode, the daughter of Thomas and Dora (Bakke) Olson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode. She attended school in Bode, graduating from Bode High School in 1954. She then furthered her education at Waldorf College, graduating with a teaching certificate in 1956. She taught school in Clarion from 1956-57, then taught in Belmond from 1958-59. She was united in marriage to Calvin Dorenkamp on Aug. 3, 1958, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Bode. After marriage they lived in Belmond from 1958-59, then moved to Rockwell City, living there until moving to Mason City in 1964. Norma was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she was an Elder, Deacon, served as president of United Presbyterian Women and was active in music and worship. She was a member of Monday Study Club, PTA for Hoover Elementary and later volunteered at Hoover through RSVP.

Norma enjoyed taking care of her three children and attending all their activities. She loved her family and cherished spending time with them, especially her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Norma had a passion for gardening which was fueled by her love of spending time in the outdoors. Once harvested, she enjoyed sharing her produce. She always looked forward to riding her bicycle in the warm summer months. Her cooking skills were not limited as she took great pleasure in finding new recipes from her large collection of cookbooks. Norma was an excellent baker and loved making lefse along with many other delicious desserts.

She is survived by her husband and partner in life, Calvin of Mason City; children, Greg Dorenkamp and wife Michele of Eagan, Minn., Kristin Escher and husband David of Mason City; Jay Dorenkamp and wife Laurie of Woodbury, Minn.; grandchildren, Leah, Linae and Paige Escher of Mason City and Austin and Alec Dorenkamp of Woodbury, Minn.; siblings, Anna Jane Johnson, Eleanore Grefstad, Grant Olson and wife June, and Nancy Riggan; many nieces and nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Eileen Larson; brother, Orville Olson; and son-in-law, Michael Cannella. Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
August 18, 2011