Norma Ulrich, 89

Norma Evelyn Ulrich, 89, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Essentia Health St Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Her room was filled with family who came to show her their appreciation and love and say their goodbyes. There were a lot of phone and FaceTime conversations with those who couldn’t be there physically. Norma felt very blessed and loved to have so many of her family members with her at the end. She was so grateful for everyone's prayers

Norma was born on December 2, 1935, at the family farm in Manitou Township, Minnesota. She was the third born of Harold and Evelyn (Alderson) Westover. Her earlier years were spent in the bustling community of Birchdale, where she helped out on the family farm with her older brother Jack, sister Yvonne, and younger brother William (Bill). She enjoyed spending time with cousins and neighbors. Norma attended Loman Elementary School and graduated from Indus High School in 1954. Following High School, she moved to International Falls and worked at Boise Cascade.

Norma was baptized, confirmed, and became a member of the Birchdale United Congregational Church. Duane was her Sunday School Teacher and later became her husband, which led them to teach Sunday School to their children and the other kids in the surrounding area. Besides helping with various duties at the church, she was a member of the Indus Ladies Aid and, later, Birchdale Ladies Aid.

Norma was united in marriage to Duane Alfred Ulrich on June 3, 1955. To this union came four children: Donald Ray, Nancy Kay, Linda Lea, and Darrell Edwin. Norma and Duane started out with dairy cows on the farm and, in later years, raised beef cattle. Summers were spent on the tractor cutting, raking, and baling hay for the cattle. In addition to cattle, the farm was also home to pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats. Planting and harvesting a big garden kept delicious meals on the family table. She also spent time sewing clothes for her children to wear at school and church. The girls' dolls were also supplied with homemade outfits. 
Norma and Duane helped their children with 4-H projects and 4-H animals. Norma and Duane were Fire Wardens for many years. There was usually a family trip made in the summer to Nebraska to visit her sister and family. On September 11th, 1999, Duane unexpectedly passed away. They were happily married for 44 years.

Her brother Jack talked her into subbing for him as a school bus driver at the Indus School. This led her to a bus driving career for 40-plus years. She truly enjoyed the kids who would ride her regular route, and they respected her as their bus driver. She also drove for extracurricular activities after school. It was on those trips that she would spend waiting time embroidering quilt blocks. When open enrollment started, an evening run was added to her already busy schedule, arriving at Menards at 6:00 and waiting for parents to come pick up the kids. She retired three times from driving the bus before she turned in her keys for the last time. Norma now had more time to help Donnie on the farm.

Even at 88 years old, she was still on the tractor, canning, and freezing goodies from the garden last fall, which she shared with family and friends who were lucky enough to enjoy. She even made 19 dozen buns for her granddaughter Taunya and Joe’s wedding. This last Christmas, she cooked a big dinner for 17 family members. Some years, the attendance reached over 30 people. Norma loved hosting these Christmas dinners where her family members could come and share fellowship, play games, and take selfies with each other.

Norma told her family that she lived a good life, raised a good family and got to live in a good community. And she let them know she would always be with them.

Norma was preceded in death by her loving husband Duane, daughter Linda, daughter in-law Phyllis, parents Harold and Evelyn, in-laws Alfred and Hattie Ulrich, siblings Jack, Yvonne and William, sister and brother in-laws Jean Kurtz Westover Kennedy, Harold Wittler, Deloris and Robert Nelson, nephew Kent Wittler.

Norma is survived by her children Donnie (Ann), Nancy (Mike) Leahy and Darrell (Joanne); son in-laws Dean (Nicole) Byfuglien and Scott (Wendy) Monkman; grandchildren Nathaniel(Jen) Councillor, Lynnette (Jeremy) Vogel, Riel (Kersten) Councillor, Taunya (Joe) Zigan, Mariah (Jackson) Leahy, Derrick (Tanya) Byfuglien, Danielle (Nick) Byfuglien, Derian (Elle) Byfuglien, Kristin Monkman, Kiana (Marcellis) Monkman, Wyatt (Katie) Ulrich, Walker (Angela) Ulrich and Hattie Ulrich; sister-in-law Daisy Westover; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, one great-grandchild on the way and numerous nieces and nephews.
 

Norma was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by many.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Birchdale United Congregational Church in Birchdale. Burial will be at the Birchdale Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Green-Larsen Mortuary in International Falls and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

  Condolences may be left on www.greenlarsen.com

Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.