Howard Oliver Norland

Born in Hibbing, Minnesota on September 13, 1921 to Fred and Chesta Norland, he grew up on the family farm located adjacent to the Rainy River near Baudette, Minnesota. At the age of 17, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and spent the next two years learning Morse code and honing his radio operator skills.

In December 1941, Howard enlisted in the Army Air Forces, where he worked as a radio operator instructor for the next three years before being accepted into the Aviation Cadet Training Program in January 1944. He graduated from flight training school in January 1946 at Luke Field in Glendale, Arizona, where he also met Ruth Robertson, a friendly store clerk in the Post Exchange. They dated for two weeks, then Howard shipped out for his next military assignment in Illinois, but they continued their relationship by writing letters and became engaged a few months later. Howard and Ruth were married on October 16, 1946 in Chanute, Kansas.

During the next few years, Howard and Ruth lived in Illinois, followed by Japan, then back to Kansas, where they eventually settled in Mulvane after Howard accepted a job with Boeing in nearby Wichita in early 1951. Over the years, he held several different positions but most enjoyed his teaching responsibilities, which in later years required extensive travel to provide training and tech support for Boeing’s military aircraft. In addition to his full time job, Howard was co-founder and co-owner of Mulvane Radio & TV throughout the 1960s and completed his 20 years of military service in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1974. In spite of the busy schedule, he also set aside time for family activities with Ruth and their four children.

After 30 years’ living in Mulvane, Howard was transferred to Huntsville, Alabama in 1981 and retired from Boeing two years later. With more time to kick back a little, he bought a boat and “drowned a few worms.” Always eager for new adventures, he and Ruth also purchased their first motor home in the early 1980s and ventured out on extended trips. They enjoyed the travel lifestyle for the next 30+ years, logging 250,000 miles in three different motor homes, traveling through 49 states and Canada, including two treks to Alaska. In 1992, Howard and Ruth moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, and a couple of years later joined the High Plains Drifters motor home club – a group of fellow adventurers that also became close friends.

Other than his grandmother, a couple of uncles and a few cousins, Howard knew little about his extended family when he was young. Later in life, his inquisitive nature led to a quest of knowing more, so he began researching records and tracking down family members. His tireless efforts (“it goes on and on – it’s like a disease!”) led to the development of a family tree going back seven generations on the Norland side and to a new tradition of holding biennial family reunions, where Howard would entertain descendants with Power Point presentations on family history well into his 90s.

Another pastime that we must mention is Howard’s creations from his woodshop. He took up woodturning in his late 80s, because “I had a lathe and decided I should learn how to use it.” So he did, and 185 woodturned bowls later, he still loved the challenge of getting the angles just right and experimenting with various woods and custom designs.

Howard will be remembered for his impressive work ethic, the courage of his convictions, his good humor and neighborly ways, and his engineering skills. He never met an object that couldn’t be “improved” with just a little tinkering here and there.

Howard’s survivors include Ruth, his wife of 74 years, plus four children and their spouses, Kenneth (and Gloria) Norland, Ronald (and Cynthia) Norland, Carol (and Bill) Davis, and Janice (and Mark) Yeskie; as well as five grandsons, Marc, Keith, Philip, Andrew and Scott; one granddaughter, Amy; and four great grandchildren, Kamryn, Kathryn, Robert, and Owen. He is also survived by two nephews, Allan Norland and Larry Norland; and a niece, Pat Shaw. He was preceded in death by his brother, Woodrow and his sister, Elizabeth.

Allnutt Funeral Services is handling arrangements for cremation and interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery. A family memorial service and celebration of Howard’s life will be scheduled for a later date.