Alma Maria Norby

Alma Maria Norby, age 99, of La Grande, died Sunday, July 28, 2002 at a care center in Baker City.

A graveside service will be held at the Island City Cemetery on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Friends may call on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mrs. Norby was born on April 15, 1903 at Mason, Wisconsin to Anton and GuriAnna (Sater) Haugness. When she was 5 years old her mother died and her father took her and her two younger sisters to live with relatives in Norway. Alma returned to the US when she was 16 years old. She lived for a while with her father and his new family in Sandpoint, Idaho. She then attended school in Spokane and later in Seattle.

Mrs. Norby married Alvin Norby in 1928 in Seattle. They moved to La Grande where they settled and raised their family. They had three children, Dr. Lynn Norby of Spokane, Washington, Gladys Jones of Waterford, CA and Carol Clark of La Grande. She had four grandchildren.

She is survived by half-sisters, Rachel Stueckle of Federal Way, Washington, Altona Wigen of La Crosse, Washington, Dagmar Kirking of Sagle, Idaho and half-brother, Haakon Haugness of Boise, Idaho; many nieces and nephews and their children. Her husband, Alvin, sisters, Gerti Camyn, Olga Furset and half-sister, Hazel Jensen died earlier.

Mrs. Norby loved people. She had a special way to make people laugh and to feel good about themselves. She especially loved her family and she will be greatly missed.