Norma B. LaPorte

Norma B. LaPorte, 78, of Bowdon, ND passed away Saturday, August 16, 2025 at her home. Memorial Services will be held at 2:30 PM Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Manfred Adventist Church in rural Manfred, ND with Pastor Harold Chin officiating. Burial will be at the Manfred Adventist Church Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Nelson Funeral Home of Fessenden, ND.  

Norma Jean (Blanck) LaPorte was born on January 9, 1947 to Joseph (Joe) and Betty Blanck at Loma Linda, California.  The family moved to Spokane, Washington when she was about 5 years old so her father could work on his uncle's farm.  She attended church school in Spokane through the 10th grade then attended Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle,WA for high school.  She chose Walla Walla College in College Place, WA to begin her degree in Education.  

Norma met her husband of 57 years, Ellis LaPorte, at Walla Walla College and they married on August 18, 1968 in Moscow, Idaho where her family was located.  After their marriage, Ellis and Norma stayed in College Place to continue their education.  

After moving to Pendleton, OR, Ellis worked at a Harris Pine Mills furniture factory and Norma taught 7th grade at the church school.  They became proud parents of their first child in Pendleton.  Then located to Spokane, WA where their son was born.  Ellis and Norma have two children, Elly and Ellis Jr. also two grandchildren, Ellisa and Trent “TJ” Millirans.

After some time “homesteading” not far from Ellis' parents in Olympia, WA they relocated to The Dalles, OR, where Ellis worked at a farm chemical company then as Environmental Supervisor at a county operated nursing home for a number of years.  Norma was able to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Judson Baptist College while living in The Dalles, OR.

When both of their children moved to North Dakota, Ellis and Norma wanted to be closer to them and decided to sell their home and move permanently to North Dakota in 1999.  

Norma has been a school teacher, substitute teacher, volunteer for Bowdon Grocery, helped with church community service, food bank, church Primary Department leader and helped with Pathfinder Club and overall enjoyed helping people.  She loved gardening, canning, sewing, crocheting and taking care of her family.

Norma is preceded in death by both of her parents, Lois (Howe) Blanck (step-mother) and Cheryl Blanck (sister-in-law).  

She is survived by her husband Ellis, Elly Millirans (daughter) of Columbus,Wisconsin, Ellis LaPorte Jr. (son) of Obron, ND, Ellisa Millirans (granddaughter), Trent “TJ” Millirans (grandson), Gloria (Ray) Hoffman (sister) and Warren Blanck (brother).