- Date Of Birth: 1916
- Date Of Death: 2016
- State: Minnesota
Obituary of Norman M. Lorentzsen
Norman M. Lorentzsen, age 99, of Woodbury, Minnesota, died peacefully on Sept. 21, 2016, surrounded by his three children and loving wife, Donna Boller. Norman was a man of great wisdom, integrity and generosity.
Norman, the youngest of five children, was born to Ivar and Antonette Lorentzsen (Norwegian immigrants) in Horace, North Dakota on November 29, 1916. After graduating from Dilworth High School in 1936 and Concordia College, Moorhead, MN in 1941, Norman enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, serving as a patrol bomber pilot in the Pacific Theatre. He met the first love of his life, Helen Broten, at Concordia College. Norm and Helen were married in 1943 and shared a blessed and full life together for 62 years, until Helen’s passing in 2005. At age 89 Norm married the second love of his life, Donna Boller. They enjoyed almost eleven years together. Donna and her daughters (Janet Dutcher and Jill Nasvik) brought renewed joy and many blessings to Norm and his family.
Following the war, Norman began a long and distinguished forty-year career in the railroad industry. He rose from a section worker and brakeman at the Northern Pacific Railroad to Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board’s Executive Committee at Burlington Northern Inc. While at Burlington Northern he founded and served as Chairman of Burlington Northern Transport, and Burlington Northern Air Freight Inc. Norman retired from the Burlington Northern in 1981.
Norman was a passionate supporter of his alma mater, Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota. For many years, he was Chairman of the Board of Regents at Concordia and served and supported the college. Norman was influential in the establishment of the Lorentzsen Center for Faith and Works at Concordia. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and thrilled to be knighted by King Olav of Norway.
Norman and Helen had 3 children, Thomas Lorentzsen (Marge) of Fargo, ND, Mary Nesvig (Kirk) of Woodbury, MN, and Katherine Johnson (Jeff) of Edmonds, WA. Norman was blessed by 12 grandchildren: Liz Lorentzsen (Dan Vellone), Kristi Lorentzsen (Steve Gruber), Erika Lorentzsen, Dawn Samuel (Marlon), Nick Hennenfent, Kristen Smyth (Tony), Sarah Carlson (Mike), Ben Nesvig (Liz), Jon Nesvig (Rachel), Brian Johnson (Holly), AnaLisa Gerbig (Alex), Karin Johnson. And by the love of 18 great-grandchildren. Our family extends our deep gratitude to the caring staff at Red Rock Senior Living of Woodbury, MN.
Soli Deo Gloria . . . . Glory to God alone!
