Norman T. Forde

Norman Toralph Forde passed away peacefully on May 3, 2016 at the Nelson County Care Center in McVille, ND. Norman was 102 years old.

Norman was born on April 14, 1914 in Forde Township to Obert and Gertrud (Hensrud) Forde. Norman lived on a farm south of Tolna, ND along with his 3 brothers and sister. Grandma Gertie told his family many stories about Norman and his siblings getting into mischief. Norman married the love of his life, Clara Johnson on April 25, 1937. They lived with his parents for the first year and then answered an ad in a farm magazine for a couple to work on a farm in Pipestone, MN. Norma Kaye joined them, so they wanted to make a better life and get on their own. They bought a loaf of bread, summer sausage and cheese, and hoped the Model T and $5 would get their little family to Minnesota. After a year of working hard in Minnesota they moved back to ND and settled in a small farm house which they rented by Pekin, ND. The wind blew through the cracks in the house, and peach crates made do for furniture. Their humble beginnings taught them the value of financial managing so they could buy a farm of their own. Norman and Clara decided to buy their own farm located by Hamar, ND where they started with nothing but a “mule and a plow” as Norman tells it. It was a dream come true with a sturdy house and barn they could call their own. It was on this farm they called 40 Acres that they lived for 56 years raising Kaye and 2 more girls Midge and Laurie. When their farming days ended they moved to McVille in 1999. Norman had many animals but raised cattle mainly and was very partial to Herefords. He could be seen in the pasture many times brushing off the flies from the backs of these critters as he talked gently to each one. He often said to be successful at farming you had to love it more than almost anything else. Norman also enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and going places with his beloved Clara. Most of all he loved having his family around him and always had time for each and every one of them. Norman was a great teacher too. He taught his daughters, some of his grandchildren, some nephews, and neighbor kids the value of a day’s work in the field. He was patient and kind as he helped each one learn to drive tractor and put up haystacks. Norman was a long time member of Tolna Lutheran Church and was one of many that helped in the planning of the building that is now standing in Tolna, ND.

Norman is survived by his daughters Kaye (Fred Schmidt) Kraft, Midge (Dale) Quam and Laurie (David) Skadsem; grandchildren Tim (Kathe) Kraft, Greg (Shannon) Kraft, Jayme Kraft, Nancy (John) Huseby, Stacey (Kelly) Leben, Brian (Rachel) Quam, Shayla (Jamie) Thomson, and Erin Skadsem; several great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Edna Forde, Unice Forde and Astrid Burthold.

Norman was preceded in death and united in heaven by his parents, his wife Clara, brothers Gerald, Orris, Harris, sister Esther, son-in-law Frank Kraft, grandson Joel, and many sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, cousins and dear friends.

Norman was such a gentle, wonderful and a one of a kind man, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.