Richard Norlin

Richard Darrell Norlin, 77, a resident of Fergus Falls, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, October 30, 2011 at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls. He was born December 27, 1933, in International Falls, Minnesota, the son of Oscar and Nettie (Snustad) Norlin. The family moved to Winger shortly after. At the age of three he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Jacob and Esther Snustad, in Roseau because his mother was taking care of her ill sister, and then her mother. After his parents moved to Roseau, he shared his time with the Snustads and his parents. Richard had two brothers, George, who was killed during World War II, and Donald, who passed away in 1988. He was confirmed at the English Lutheran Church in Roseau on May 23, 1948. He graduated from Roseau High School in 1951, and from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, in 1956. After graduating he enlisted in the Army and trained as a Neuropsychiatric Tech. After Basic Training he was transferred to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, and then to Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, PA. While at Walter Reed he met Beverly Ahalt and they were married on February 1, 1958, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Burkittsville, MD. They lived in Phoenixville until October, 1959; then on his discharge they moved to Minnesota. In February of 1960 he started work as a social worker for the Lake of the Woods Social Services Office, then to Roseau County as a social worker, and to Stevens County as the director. In September 1967 he took a social worker position at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center and retired in 1995 on his 62nd birthday. He thoroughly enjoyed retirement and traveling. The last 12 winters were spent in Alabama appreciating having no snow. Dick joined the Lions in 1965, and went on to become President of the Fergus Falls club, and then District Governor in 1985-86. He was a member of the DAV, Eagles, and Elks, and a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, and Grace Lutheran of Gulf Shores, Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Beverly; two daughters, Karen (S. Troy) Christensen of Tacoma, WA, and Carol (Scott) Johannes of Golden Valley, MN, and one son, George (Karlyn) of Thief River Falls; and four granddaughters, Alisyn Christensen of Tacoma, Kaylee and Shelby Norlin of Thief River Falls, and Emily Johannes of Golden Valley. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a 6 p.m. prayer service, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverends Kate Bruns and Stan Satre Interment: Minnesota Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials are preferred to the Bethlehem Foundation, the Lions Diabetes Foundation, or the Lions Can Do Canines.