Loren Norby

Loren “Larry” Melvin Norby Jr., 77, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls. He was born March 29, 1933, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the son of Loren and Palma (Hagen) Norby. He grew up in Fergus Falls, graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1951. He attended St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. He later attended Moorhead State University, receiving an Addiction Counselor degree. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1956, stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. He then was a member of the Air Force Reserves until his discharge in 1961. On August 20, 1954 he married La Roy Nell Schneider at St. John’s Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. Following his discharge from the Air Force he returned to Fergus Falls and joined the Norby family business as Merchandise Manager. After his father’s death he became President and General Manager of Norby’s Department Store and Realty Company from 1962 to 1979. He began his second career as an Addiction Dependency Counselor at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, Family Freedom in Detroit Lakes, and St. Ansgar’s and St. John’s hospitals in Fargo. He developed the outpatient chemical dependency program at Lakeland Mental Health in 1993. He retired in 1996. Larry knows firsthand the “living on the edge” kind of existence of being an alcoholic, and the difference treatment can make. He enjoyed 34 years of sobriety. Larry was a member of First Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir and served on the council, a lifetime member of the American Legion, and a past member of the Elks, Phoenix, Masons, and Shriners. He served as a director for the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce, the United Way Fund, past officer of the YMCA, Jaycees, and former director of the Industrial Park Commission, served as president of the Golf Association, and past board member of the Minnesota Retail Federation and the Central States Dept. Stores. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and bowling. Preceding him in death were his parents, a sister-in-law, Dorothy (Donald) Krekelberg, and a brother-in-law, Allen Chapman. Survivors include his wife, La Roy Nell, of Fergus Falls; his children: Loren “Chip” (Shauna) Norby III of Rogers, MN, Martha Norby (Scott Eckart) of Minneapolis, Michael Norby of Corona, CA, Laura LePage (Robin Urbaszewski) of Mokena, IL, Mark Norby of Richfield, MN, and Paula Norby Krueger (Doug Krueger) of Breckenridge, MN; seven grandchildren: Andrea Norby, Luke Winskowski, Jessica Norby, Danielle LePage, Jacques LePage, Amanda Eckart, and Julia Eckart; his godchildren, Julia Aubel, Kyle Halverson, and Tara (Chapman) Johnson; a sister, Patti (Tedd) Norby-Steenbock of Fergus Falls; a sister-in-law, Mary Louise Chapman of San Antonio, TX; and seven nieces and nephews. Memorials may be directed to School District 544 Class of 1951 or the First Lutheran Church Choir. Visitation: 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2011, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Chaplain Harry Olson Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls with military participation by the Fergus Falls American Legion and VFW Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls