Norman Lloyd Tangedal

Norman Tangedal was born on the family farm in North Dakota on December 21st, 1932. His parents were Erling Tangedal and Gurid (Gertie) Paulhus, both of whom were born in Norway, Erling in Tangedal valley in western Norway, and Gertie in Hemsedal. Gertie and Erling had six children, five boys and one girl, and Norman was the second youngest. The northern fence-line of their farm coincided with the Canadian border, so they were literally living as far north in the state of North Dakota as you could go, and in the western direction it was only a short 15-minute drive to enter into the state of Montana.

The first school that Norm attended as a boy was a one-room schoolhouse out on the prairie. On nicer days, he could ride his horse to school. He attended high school in Westby, Montana, and he played basketball on his high school team. Not long after he graduated from high school, he moved to Indianapolis. His older sister Ellie had moved to Indiana some years earlier and had settled there with her husband Bob Stuckey, who was from that part of the country. Norm worked with Bob at the Stuckey Texaco station, and using the money he earned there, he started college at Butler University in Indianapolis. After deciding to major in engineering, Norm transferred to Purdue University starting his junior year. He was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and always a proud Boilermaker. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Purdue, the same school and program that the astronaut Neil Armstrong attended. Norm was just a few years after Armstrong, so they unfortunately never met.

Norm was recruited to work at Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego right after graduating from Purdue. Not long after moving to San Diego, Norm met Zana Louise Purdy (originally from Birmingham, Alabama) at a tea dance in Mission Valley, and they married in December, 1959. Two sons were born to this marriage, Brett in December, 1960, and Eric in April, 1962. The family originally lived in Ocean Beach, but after a few moves, they settled in the San Diego neighborhood of University City.

Brett and Eric both played Pop Warner football and Little League baseball for many years, and Norm was heavily involved in their activities, coaching and serving a stint as President of UC Pop Warner. Norm was an enthusiastic athlete himself. Golf was probably his strongest sport, but he was also an avid tennis player, skier, and fisherman.

Norm spent the majority of his career at Solar Turbines, and travelled extensively both on business and with his family. He visited most of the countries in Europe, including of course Norway, as well as Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Chile, Australia, and many others. Norm loved to sing and he was a big fan of Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker, having met Chet once while he was a college student. Norm's son Brett married Ann Strömberg from Karlshamn, Sweden, and they have one daughter, Elise. Eric married Rosa Flores and they have three children, Leah, Eric, and Norman. Unfortunately, Norm's first wife Zana passed away in 1998.

After Zana passed, Norm reconnected with his old Purdue friend Fred Illingworth. Fred was the brother of his college sweetheart, Lyn. Norm learned that Lyn (who lived in Columbus, Ohio) had also lost her husband of many years. All it took was one phone call from Norm for the old friendship to rekindle. Norm, the decisive man that he was, was quick to book a flight to Columbus. He arrived, flowers in hand, snowy white hair but the same smile that Lyn remembered, and the courtship resumed.

In 1999, Lyn (with her cocker spaniel Sarah) moved to San Diego to marry Norm. Lyn and Norm would have celebrated 23 years of marriage in September. For Norm and Lyn, both having lost their first spouses too soon, it has been an indescribable and unexpected blessing to have a “second life” together. Norm embraced Lyn’s daughters, Krista and Karla, and their children, as though they were his own. What a gift this has been for them!

Oh, the wonderful stories Norm told! His friends and family could fill a book with his colorful anecdotes, the stories of farm life in North Dakota, or recollections of a full and successful career as a Solar engineer. Lyn would fondly refer to him as "the stubborn Norwegian", which would elicit a hearty chuckle from Norm! Norm made each of us feel loved and special.

Lyn requests that memorial gifts be made to Benjamin’s Hope in Holland, Michigan: www.benjaminshope.net, or mailed to Benjamin’s Hope, 15468 Riley Street, Holland, Michigan, 49424. Ben is one of Norm’s grandchildren, and Ben’s Hope is a farmstead community for adults with autism. Norm loved his family and he loved his dogs. We will miss him terribly. Yet, each one of us counts our life richer because we have known the warmth of Norm's smile, the sound of his hearty laugh, and the cadence of his stories (perhaps already told!).Today, as we grieve together, we also celebrate the precious gift of having been loved by Norman Lloyd Tangedal.

A funeral service for Norman will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, August 9, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. A reception will occur Tuesday, August 9, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sorrentovalleychapel.com for the Tangedal family.