David Norton

David Alonzo Norton, age 94, of East Grand Forks, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, July 12, 2020, with family members at his side.  A prayer service will be held on Saturday, July 18^th at 2:00 pm at Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 South 42^nd Street, Grand Forks ND 58208.  The Public is encouraged to watch the recorded service from the Amundson Funeral Home website (amundsonfuneralhome.com).  Following the prayer service, Dave will be laid to rest at Cavalry Cemetery, with military honors provided by the East Grand Forks V.F.W Honor Guard.  Pall bearers for Dave will be David Fitzsimmons, Ben Blair, Matt Blair, Josh Blair, Tanner Norton, Josh Norton, Gabe Norton and Jonathon Lee.

Dave was born in Walker MN on January 8^th, 1926, the son of Lon and Lorna (Morrill) Norton.  In 1932, he and his family moved to a farm near East Grand Forks MN, where he attended a nearby country school.  The same school several of his children attended many years later.

Dave worked alongside his father on the family farm, but wanted to defend his country during WWII.   As soon as he turned 18, he proudly enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served as an Early-Warning Radar Technician in the Pacific Theater.

After returning from his service, Dave worked with his father again on the farm while spending his summers doing custom combining to help support his family.  Following his father's death, Dave managed a potato warehouse for Guy's Foods until his retirement at age 72.  

Dave married the love of his life, Loretta Austin, on October 21st, 1946 at Sacred Heart Church in East Grand Forks. Settling down on the farm where he spent his youth,  Dave and Loretta raised six daughters and five sons. Life became complete for Dave as he became a grandpa of 26 and a great grandfather of 19. 

Dave was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Church and was deeply involved with the athletics program at the school.  He was proud to be inducted into the Sacred Heart Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Dave always took great pleasure in figuring out alternatives for the way things were designed, built or used.  He never seemed to get frustrated and he never gave up.  If something was broken, he would fix it or if he needed something, he would make it.  Dave’s other lesser known passion was for music.  He often played country or bluegrass on the way to and from the fields or in the potato warehouse while watching over the harvest.  This ardor for music stayed with him to his last day as he sang “You are my sunshine” with his family at his side.  Dave was also dearly loved by the staff and nurses of his senior care facilities, and it was with a touch of sadness for themselves, tempered by happiness for Dave, that they said goodbye to him Sunday. 

He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Loretta, and brothers Jim, Tom, and John.

The legacy of Dave now will live on in the hearts of his children; Patti Blair, Kathy Shirek (Duane), Theresa Norton, Elizabeth Nordin (Dave), Lorna Fitzsimmons, Dan (Theresa), Tom (Maureen), Frank (Pam), Jon (Denise), Kevin (Gina), Lisa Lee (Sean); 26 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; siblings, Nora Pearson, Mary Ellen Schindler, Rita Finn, and Bob Norton (Arleen), as well as many nieces and nephews.

You may view the funeral service from this link. https://youtu.be/Jjjx28kbnu4