1935
Norma
2011
Norma Jo Fiechtner
August 30, 1935 — May 30, 2011
Click to view the Video Tribute for Norma
Norma Jo Rasmussen was born August 30, 1935 in Olympia, WA to Norman and Wilma (Claughton) Rasmussen. One of her grandfathers came from Denmark where he lived as a small child on the same block as the elderly, famous Hans Christian Anderson who would tell the neighborhood children stories. In 1955 she graduated from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, WA. On January 19, 1957 in Bremerton, WA she married Ralph L. Fiechtner who had been in the Army in Fort Lewis. They made their home on a farm near Lehr, ND and were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Lehr. She moved to Fargo in 1974.
Norma battled Multiple Sclerosis for nearly 50 years and lived in the Villa Maria care facility in Fargo, ND for the last 12 years. She passed away peacefully at Villa Maria on May 30, 2011. She was very happy at Villa Maria and not only did the staff provide great care for her health issues, they became family to her. She had great faith and a very positive outlook on life in spite of her health. The Villa Maria staff said she never complained. She had a quick, sharp wit and a great sense of humor.
She had been active in many organizations throughout her life including tap dancing in her high school chorus line, Honored Queen of Bethel 43 Job's Daughters, 4-H Leader, Confirmation Teacher, Parents without Partners Officer, Toastmistress Club Officer, Business and Professional Women Officer, and President of the ND State Homemakers Clubs -- to name a few. She also volunteered to teach English to new Americans for several years and was the North Dakota Adult Ambassador for the 1991 Easter Seals Telethon.
Norma was a great cook and baker. One of her recipes, Beefy Bunwiches, was published in The Farm Journal. She was also very creative, a sharp dresser, loved to decorate for holidays, threw dinner parties and late night "fish frys," was an excellent writer, and sewed pretty dresses for her girls when they were little.
She is survived by her four children, Angie (Charles) Knapp, Fargo, ND; Sheila Fiechtner, Maple Grove, MN; Cindy Thurmon, Bremerton, WA; and Randy (Carolyn) Fiechtner, West Fargo, ND; one sister, Karen Odle, McCleary, WA, one sister-in-law, Louise Rasmussen, Bremerton, WA.; Seven grandchildren: Laurie (Josh) Hernandez, Jason Nelson, C. Tyler (Kassi) Knapp, Jacqueline Knapp, Melissa Thurmon, Kelli Fiechtner, and Lyla Fiechtner. Five great-grandchildren: Colby, Rylie, and Hunter Hernandez; Elise and Charles Knapp.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; brother, Chris Rasmussen; and brother-in-law, Leo Odle.
A Celebration of Norma's life will be Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 6 PM, in Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus, Fargo.
Norma Jo Rasmussen was born August 30, 1935 in Olympia, WA to Norman and Wilma (Claughton) Rasmussen. One of her grandfathers came from Denmark where he lived as a small child on the same block as the elderly, famous Hans Christian Anderson who would tell the neighborhood children stories. In 1955 she graduated from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, WA. On January 19, 1957 in Bremerton, WA she married Ralph L. Fiechtner who had been in the Army in Fort Lewis. They made their home on a farm near Lehr, ND and were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Lehr. She moved to Fargo in 1974.
Norma battled Multiple Sclerosis for nearly 50 years and lived in the Villa Maria care facility in Fargo, ND for the last 12 years. She passed away peacefully at Villa Maria on May 30, 2011. She was very happy at Villa Maria and not only did the staff provide great care for her health issues, they became family to her. She had great faith and a very positive outlook on life in spite of her health. The Villa Maria staff said she never complained. She had a quick, sharp wit and a great sense of humor.
She had been active in many organizations throughout her life including tap dancing in her high school chorus line, Honored Queen of Bethel 43 Job's Daughters, 4-H Leader, Confirmation Teacher, Parents without Partners Officer, Toastmistress Club Officer, Business and Professional Women Officer, and President of the ND State Homemakers Clubs -- to name a few. She also volunteered to teach English to new Americans for several years and was the North Dakota Adult Ambassador for the 1991 Easter Seals Telethon.
Norma was a great cook and baker. One of her recipes, Beefy Bunwiches, was published in The Farm Journal. She was also very creative, a sharp dresser, loved to decorate for holidays, threw dinner parties and late night "fish frys," was an excellent writer, and sewed pretty dresses for her girls when they were little.
She is survived by her four children, Angie (Charles) Knapp, Fargo, ND; Sheila Fiechtner, Maple Grove, MN; Cindy Thurmon, Bremerton, WA; and Randy (Carolyn) Fiechtner, West Fargo, ND; one sister, Karen Odle, McCleary, WA, one sister-in-law, Louise Rasmussen, Bremerton, WA.; Seven grandchildren: Laurie (Josh) Hernandez, Jason Nelson, C. Tyler (Kassi) Knapp, Jacqueline Knapp, Melissa Thurmon, Kelli Fiechtner, and Lyla Fiechtner. Five great-grandchildren: Colby, Rylie, and Hunter Hernandez; Elise and Charles Knapp.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; brother, Chris Rasmussen; and brother-in-law, Leo Odle.
A Celebration of Norma's life will be Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 6 PM, in Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus, Fargo.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norma Jo Fiechtner, please visit our flower store.
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