Norma Thompson

1931 - 2025

Norma Linda Thompson, age 94, passed away on September 24, at the Pierz Villa in Pierz, MN.

Norma was born July 17, 1931, at the Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, California, to Leo and Sophy Laxdal. She attended grammar school at the Highland Avenue Elementary School. In 1943, Norma's family moved to the family farm in Gardar, North Dakota, where she attended a four-room country schoolhouse, graduating from Gardar High School in 1949.

She was united in marriage to Lawrine "Swede" Thompson in 1950. After marriage, the couple spent some time in Seattle, WA, and later Bemidji, MN, before settling in Onamia, MN, where they raised their two sons, Jon and Joel.

Norma worked for over 30 years for the Mille Lacs Band Head Start Program as a teacher/director. She also worked at Camp Onomia and the Mille Lacs Community Library until retiring. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and volunteered as a Sunday School teacher for many years. Norma was always interested in hearing about the lives of her family members. She enjoyed scrap booking, dancing with the Silver Threads group, and was very interested in her family's genealogy, compiling pictures and stories into booklets to share with family. She was proud of her Icelandic heritage, and after meeting an Icelandic cousin, took a trip to Iceland with her granddaughters and niece in 2013.

Norma is survived by her son, Jon (Margaret) Thompson of Onamia, son, Joel (Jackie) Thompson of Mora; grandchildren, Erin (Rick) Schlieman, Ashley Thompson, Amy (Byron) Ninham, Josh (Jen) Callander, Emily (Dan) Ramlet, and Jason (Heather) Callander; along with many great-grandchildren and extended family members.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrine; parents, Leo and Sophy; brother, Lee; sister, Laurel; nephew, Todd; and nieces, Susie and Angie, along with many beloved extended family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Holy Cross Center in Onamia, MN, on October 10th. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by a service and luncheon at 11:00 AM.