Sylvia Norland

After a brief illness, Sylvia H. Norland, 92, of Virginia, Minnesota, and a long-time resident of Montevideo, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2018 at the Essentia - Virginia Hospital. She had resided at the St. Michael's Health & Rehabilitation Center in Virginia for the past two years.

Memorial service will be held at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2018 with visitation for one hour before the service.

Sylvia was born July 20, 1925 in Glenwood, Minnesota to Hans and Sara (Johannessen) Schey. After graduating from Glenwood High School, she attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where she graduated in 1947 with degrees in History and Music. On August 16, 1947, she was united in marriage in Glenwood to Ralph B. Norland of Starbuck, Minnesota.

Sylvia and Ralph made their home first in Blackduck, Minnesota, then Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, and finally Montevideo, Minnesota. They started as school teachers, with Ralph eventually becoming a school principal and then a superintendent of schools. Besides being a teacher and substitute teacher, Sylvia developed a studio for private piano lessons and served as a choir director. They also started a family and raised four children: Barbara, Deborah, Michael, and Kristen.

Sylvia and Ralph were long-time members of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo where Sylvia served as the choir director. She retired from directing choirs in 2003 after 54 years of service. Sylvia was very active in her community serving as a member of the AAUW, the Chippewa County Library Board, the Julia Circle, the Senior Advisory Board, Senior Lites, and she was a member of P.E.O. Chapter Q until she passed away. Her family was the most important thing in Sylvia’s life and she treasured family gatherings at the cabin on Lake Mary: the more crowded the cabin was, the better. She and Ralph enjoyed traveling including visits to Norway, Russia, and China. After Ralph’s death, she took a cruise on the Amazon River. Sylvia was an avid reader, loved to play Bridge, as well as cooking, baking, stained glass projects, knitting, and quilting (having been trained by her mother, a talented seamstress). Ralph and Sylvia were proud of their Norwegian heritage, something always reflected during the holidays.

Sylvia is survived be her daughters: Barbara L. Salter of Fayetteville, Georgia, Deborah L. (James Bovee) Norland of Decorah, Iowa, and Kristen S. (Jim) Weikum of Biwabik, Minnesota; daughter-in-law Barbara Vaske Norland of Homestead, Florida, and former AFS student Graham (Elaine) Emmet of Johannesburg, South Africa; grandchildren Erik (Sarah) Salter, Sara Landry, Marit Bovee, Kara Bovee (Sean Cahill), Katie Norland, Allison (Jon) Norland-Lowe, Hannah (Justin) Adams, Jakob Weikum, and Rebeka Weikum; seven great-grandchildren plus two more on the way; numerous nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends. Sylvia was very proud of her children and their families.

Sylvia was preceded in death by Ralph, her husband of 46 years, in 1994, her son Michael R. Norland in 2005, her Great-Granddaughter Peyton Anita Norland in 2013, her son-in-law N. Holsey Salter in 2004, brothers H. Norman Schey and Elmer Schey, sister Klara Strand, and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Family services are being handled by Bauman-Cron Family Funeral Homes. A prayer service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia

Memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo, the Organ Fund at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia, or Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The family wishes to thank the staff at the St. Michael’s Health & Rehabilitation Center in Virginia for the love and care they provided to Sylvia these past two years.