Nora Ketterling

NORA MATHILDE KETTERLING was born on March 10, 1915 to Neander and Margit (Mathisen) Samuelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was baptized on May 1, 1915 at St. Petri Free Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and later confirmed on May 19, 1929 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Nora was raised on a farm near Mildred, Minnesota and attended country school. She later moved to Minneapolis and worked at the Forum Cafeteria downtown. Nora was united in marriage to Rudolph Norskog on September 24, 1944. The couple made their home in Minneapolis. Rudolph preceded her in death in 1980. Following his death Nora continued to live in their home. On May 7, 1982 Nora was united in marriage to Richard Ketterling at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The couple lived in Minneapolis until Richard retired in 1986. Following his retirement they moved to Luverne, Minnesota to live on Richard’s family farm. Due to their health, the couple became residents at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, Minnesota in December of 2005. Richard preceded Nora in death on January 1, 2006. Nora remained living at the home and continued to receive good care from the family of staff. On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Nora passed away peacefully in her room at the age of 96 years, six months and 18 days.

Nora was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne and although her health later in life prevented her from regularly attending Sunday service, she always looked forward to receiving her home communion. She enjoyed writing poetry. When she and Richard moved to Luverne, Nora also enjoyed all of her chickens, ducks, goats, cats and other animals on the farm. She and Richard hung many bird feeders and houses around the farm and enjoyed watching all of the varieties of birds that came to feed and nest.

Nora is lovingly remembered by her nieces, nephews, and other family. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Rudolph Norskog and Richard Ketterling; and her parents, Neander and Margit.