Willard Normark

Willard Normark passed away in Mesa, Arizona, on March 24, 2011 at the age of 92. Willard was born August 4, 1918 in Powers Lake Township, North Dakota to Ole J. and Otelia Normark. Willard managed the general store in Powers Lake until joining the Army Air Corps in 1941. He trained as a glider pilot until the program was cancelled and left the service at the rank of Technical Sergeant in 1945. He returned to Powers Lake, ND, where he owned and operated the Lake Theater until 1948 and worked with the ND Attorney General’s Office as an investigator from 1950 to 1955. Willard worked for Aminoil, Inc. for 23 years, primarily as purchasing manager, retiring in 1978. He farmed near Tioga, ND, from 1972 until 1985 and returned to Mesa, AZ, in 1990. He was a Post Commander and Life Member of the American legion Post and a past Master of Masonic Lodge #126 AF&AM in Powers Lake, ND. He was a 20 year Board member of Tioga, ND, Municipal Airport Authority, and a 7 year Board Member of Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District in Lakeside, AZ. He was Chairman of both organizations for several years.

Willard married Selma (Sammy) J. Amundson in Powers Lake, ND, in 1941. Sammy passed away in 1969 of breast cancer. Willard married Aagot Helene Gustafson in Tioga, ND, in 1971. Aagot passed away in 1998. In June of 2002, Willard married Eva Jessen in Mesa, AZ. Eva passed away in 2009. Willard is preceded in death by 1 brother, 2 sisters, and 1 nephew. Willard is survived by a son, James W. Normark and wife Marlene of Seeley Lake, MT; three grandchildren: Tonya Dennis and husband Steven Aman of Sanford, NC, Erik Normark and wife Wendy of Aurora, CO, and Kirstin Normak, of Rancho Cordova, CA; two great-grandchildren: Emily Dennis and Daniel Normark; three nieces: Mary Ruedisili of Helena, MT, Jane Paulson of Powers Lake, ND and Evelyn Johnson of McGregor, ND; three nephews: Lawrence Normark and Darrel Travis of Tioga, ND, and Gregory Fagen of Chico, CA.

Willard will be laid to rest in Tioga, ND. The date of the memorial service will be determined later. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the First Lutheran Church of Tioga, ND.