Norma E Aakre

Norma E. Aakre, 88 of Moorhead, Minnesota, formerly of Rollag, died Monday in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Norma, daughter of Edwin and Bertha (Strandlien) Anderson, was born September 2, 1921 on her familys farm in Tansem Township of Clay County, Minnesota. She attended Country School # 77 and grew to womanhood in the Barnesville"Rollag area graduating from Barnesville High School in 1940. After high school Norma worked for Zimmermans Variety Store, Norbys Department Store and later an ice cream shop all of Barnesville. Norma married Raymond W. Aakre on June 5, 1943 in Rollag Lutheran Church. She lived in Barnesville for a short time before moving to Leesville, Louisiana where Raymond was stationed at Fort Polk. They lived there until Raymond went overseas. Norma returned to Barnesville. After Raymonds discharge from the Army they moved to a farmstead near Rollag where they farmed. In 1951 they moved to their home place also near Rollag where they farmed and raised their family. Norma also cleaned houses in Fargo area for many years. Raymond died in 1994. She continued to live on the farm until 2007 when she became a resident of Eventide at Fairmont where she lived until the time of her death. She was a life long member of Rollag Lutheran Church and the Esther Circle of WELCA. She also taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Rollagettes , her homemaker group and served as a 4"H leader during her childrens involvement with 4"H. She was also a member of the Rollag area Birthday Club. Norma enjoyed gardening, embroidering and cake decorating. One of her passions was flowers. She loved growing and arranging flowers and entering her wild flower arrangements at the Clay County Fair. She loved Sunday road trips with her family. She is survived by three daughters and three sons, Nancy Aakre of Moorhead, Dwight (Karen) Aakre of Rollag, Phyllis (Virgil) Muscha of Walcott, North Dakota, Dean (Pam) Aakre of Rollag, Dale Aakre of Rollag and Jan Reiser of Fargo; 11 grandchildren, Kristen (Darin) Edeen of Dilworth, Stephanie (Rick) Nelson of Rollag, Mathew (Ranae) Aakre of Glyndon, Benjamin (Rachael) Aakre of Fargo, Allison (friend Justin Nehring) Aakre of Fargo, Joshua (Lacey) Hagen of Fargo, Zachary (Cassie) Hagen of Fargo, Nicholas Aakre of Washington, D.C., Kelsey (Cory) Buchholz of Garretson, South Dakota, Elizabeth Aakre and Charles Aakre both of Rollag; eight great-grandchildren, Ethan, Ben and Aiden Edeen, Bree Nelson, Jenna and Gavin Aakre, Samuel Aakre and Jewelia Hagen. Norma is also survived by brother and sisters-in-law, Anna Herbranson of Barnesville, Clarice Aakre, Agnes Aakre, Charlotte Henry, Ardis Aakre, Lorraine Aakre and Laurence and Florence Aakre all of the Hawley, Minnesota area. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Norma is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond; three sisters, Manda Nordrum, Ella Raknerud, Ethel Raknerud; one brother, Hartvig Anderson; her son-in-law, Larry Reiser and her great-grandson Hayden Nelson. Funeral service: Saturday at 11:00 in Rollag Lutheran Church, Rollag, Minnesota. Visitation: Friday from 5:00 " 8:00 with a prayer service at 7:00 in Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville and two hours before the funeral on Saturday, at the church. Interment: Rollag Lutheran Cemetery, Rollag.