Norma Haney died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at Evergreen Elderly Care in Bellevue, Wash., after a lengthy illness. A graveside memorial service will be held in her memory at Hillcrest Cemetery this summer.
Norma was born Aug. 11, 1920, in Seattle, Wash., the daughter of Bert and Minna Bjornthun. They moved back to Grand Forks, N.D., shortly thereafter. Norma attended Grand Forks Central High School and the University of North Dakota. She married Harold Haney in Albert Lea on June 16,1945. They lived in Grand Forks until 1960 when they moved to Albert Lea to run the family owned Kansota Farms which had been in the family since the 1930s.
Norma was very active in Albert Lea. She loved sports and shared that enthusiasm with others. Her favorite was golf. She won several tournaments during her life in Grand Forks and Albert Lea. In addition, she served on the Library Board and the Albert Lea Art’s association and helped with the planning of the annual Art in the Park event. Although she enjoyed being near her family in Washington State the last couple of years, she greatly missed her life and friends in Albert Lea.
Norma is survived by her daughter, Laurel and her husband Robert Hansen of Redmond, Wash.; grandchildren: Jeffrey and Kellyn Hansen; one sister, LaVern Jackson of Grand Forks; and many nieces and nephews.
Norma is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Haney; her parents; one son, Jesse; and sister, Lorraine.