Rev. Norman Aronson, of Montevideo, died Sunday, February 21, 2016 at his home in Montevideo at the age of 83.
Memorial services will be held Monday, February 29, 2016 at 2:30 PM at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Donald S. McKee and Rev. Matt Philaya officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.
Norman Willard Aronson was born on November 5, 1932 in Annandale, MN to Willard and Mabel (Johnson) Aronson. He was baptized and confirmed at Annandale’s St. John Lutheran Church. Norman graduated from Annandale High School. Following graduation he attended and graduated from Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, L.A. State College in Los Angeles, CA and Augustana Lutheran Seminary in Rock Island, Ill. His intern year was spent at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Helena, Montana. He was ordained as a L.C.A. Lutheran Pastor during Synod Convention at Angelica Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, CA.
After ordination he was called to start a mission church in Grover City, CA. After St. John’s Lutheran Church was organized and a building was erected he moved to First Lutheran in Mesa, AZ, St. Mark’s Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, CO, Trinity Lutheran in Boxholm, IA and finally Salem Lutheran in Montevideo, MN. He served Salem Lutheran for 13 years. After retirement in 1994 he served Hazel Run Lutheran part-time and Luther Haven Nursing Home part-time as chaplain. Norm took worship services at 50 different churches in this area and South Dakota in his “retirement”.
Norm married Dolores Ann Jenson “Dode” in Fort Dodge, IA in 1953. To this union two children were born, Kathryn Marie and Steve Norman. Later, Norm and Dode would become grandparents to two grandchildren and then great-grandparents to two more children.
Norm loved serving a church especially visitation, studies and Sunday Worship. Next to his family he loved nature, photography, golfing, bowling, coffee gatherings, book clubs, laughing, some T.V., peace activism, The Golden Grands, and The Gathering. He also enjoyed traveling, family vacations, reading, gardening and Danish Folk meetings.
Norm is survived by his wife, Dode; his children: Kathryn Aronson of Boulder, CO and Steve (Susan) Aronson of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren: Sean (Gloria) Aronson and their children Léon and Inés and Molly Aronson; brothers: Donald (Ann) Aronson of San Luis Obispo, CA and Tim Aronson of Ventura, CA; sisters-in-law: Pauline McDaniel and Charlotte (Dale) Tomlinson; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Elaine Aronson; his maternal grandparents: Hannah and Gust Johnson; his paternal grandparents: John and Christina Aronson; mother and father -in-law Madge and Jens Jensen; son-in-law, Donald Patton; brother-in-law, Bob McDaniel; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He loved life and was a very kind and caring person and will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank so many - Pastor Don McKee, Pastor Bob Knutson, Pastor Marie Eckberg, Dr. Florey, the Emergency Room and Hospital Staff, Hospice, Norm’s family and many friends, the Java River Gang, and the Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home.