Agnes M. (Borgendale) NOREM

NOREM, BORGENDALE, EIAN, BRUNING, FELDMAN, AAMOT, BENSON, ANDERSOBN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/22/2015 at 21:51:01

February 7, 1903 ---May 6, 2001

Agnes M. Norem, 98, formerly of Lanesboro, died May 6, 2001 at National Lutheran Home in Rockville, Md., where she had lived since January.

Agnes M. Borgendale was born Feb. 7, 1903, near Montevideo, Minn. She graduated from Montevideo High School and St. Cloud Teachers College, and later attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. Prior to her marriage, she taught elementary school in Dodge Center and St. Cloud. On April 6, 1935, she married the Rev. Henry Norem. They served churches in Douglas, Mylo and Minnewaukan, N.D., prior to 1952; in Spicer, Minn., from 1952 to 1963; in rural Canton-Hudson, S.D., from 1963 to 1966; and in Lanesboro from 1966 to 1973. Her husband died June 28, 1973. In churches they served she started children's and teen-age groups and high school Bible classes, directed choirs, served in leadership positions in church women's groups and served the elderly. After her husband's death, she served on the church council and on worship and evangelism committees, and taught confirmation classes. She was active in women's Bible studies, directed junior choir until her late 80s and taught high school Bible class until age 94.

Her interests included rosemaling, calligraphy, crocheting, candle wicking and gardening. She was active in politics and civic groups, and had taken a course from the Famous Writers School. In 1982 she served as senior citizen intern in Rep. Arlen Erdahl's office in Washington, D.C., and in 1985 was named Fillmore County Woman Senior Citizen of the year. She lived in Lanesboro for 34 years and then at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford from July 2000 until moving to Alexandria, Va., in November 2000 to live with a son and daughter-in-law.

Survivors include three sons, Paul of Glendale, Calif., David (Bonnie) of Alexandria, Va., and Daniel (Charline Eian) of Reno, Nev., and Blairsden, Calif.; two daughters, Lois (Fred) Bruning of Winnebago, Ill., and Mary (Mark Feldman) Norem of Fairfax, Calif.; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Helen Aamot of Burlington, Wash., Evelyn Anderson of Glencoe, Minn., and Adele (LaDell) Benson of Clintonville, Wis; and a brother, Leo Borgendale of Montevideo. Three sisters and four brothers preceded her in death.

The funeral for Agnes M. Norem was held May 10, 2001 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, with the Rev. Kerry Eversole officiating. Burial was in Lanesboro Cemetery. Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro was in charge of arrangements.

Fillmore County Journal -- Preston, Minnesota
May 11, 2001

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[married Rev. Henry Norem of Wright County, Iowa]