Martha Elizabeth Norrgard

Memorial services for Martha Norrgard, age 94, of Milaca, will be held on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will follow at Wendell Hill Cemetery near Milaca. Martha Elizabeth (Calberg) Norrgard was born March 21, 1921 in Vrigstad, Sweden while her parents Oscar and Ingrid Calberg were visiting their families. Martha was six months old when they returned to Minnesota. The Calberg family had a farm in Bogus Brook Township and all of the children, Leroy, Robert, Martha and Bernice attended the Bogus Brook District 28 School. Martha later attended Milaca High School. In 1941, Martha married Clinton Norrgard at the Evangelical Free Church in Bock, MN. The couple moved to Detroit, Michigan where they lived until Clinton was called to military service in WWII. Martha returned to Milaca to live until Clinton returned in 1945. The couple built a home in South Minneapolis where they raised their six children: Elizabeth, Sandra, James, Phillip, Paul, and David. Martha was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, where she taught Sunday School and participated in Christian Homemakers. Martha was active in a number of PTA's and loved to sew clothes for her children. In 1965, the family moved to Shoreview, MN and were charter members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. In 1972, the family returned to the Milaca area and became active members of Zion Lutheran Church. Martha sang in the church choir, served as circle chair, was WELCA district chairperson of the NW synod, social co-chair, and helped serve at many funerals. In 1993, she helped edit the Zion Centennial Book and translated Swedish records to English. While at Zion, Martha organized the "Swedish Singers" and was proud of the audio recordings that they produced. She was also active with the Santa Lucia Christmas celebrations at Zion, volunteered at the Elim Home, was chair of the Bock Park Club for many years and helped to organize the Milaca Senior Center in 1998. Martha completed coursework at Cambridge College in Swedish language and used her skills to tutor and teach Swedish through community education. In 2001, Martha moved to Minneapolis where she volunteered at the American Swedish Institute. She became one of their Swedish translators and continued to translate from Swedish when she returned to Milaca in 2006. She was a charter member of the Dala Heritage Society of Mora, MN. Martha has traveled to Sweden several times to visit family and friends. Martha is survived by her sister, Bernice Hedin of Mesa, Arizona; children, Elizabeth Woods of Eagan, Sandra Warmanen of Milaca, James (Judy) Norrgard of Isle, Phillip (Lorraine) Norrgard of Cloquet, Paul (Joni) Norrgard Milaca and David (Cori) Norrgard of Andover; sixteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Martha was preceded in death by her husband Clinton, father, Oscar, mother, Ingrid and brothers, Leroy and Robert.