Vernon “Lefty” Norling, age 84, of Kandiyohi, died Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar. A celebration of life will be 1-3:00 pm, Sunday, August 8th at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi. For your comfort please bring your own chair. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org.
Vernon Stanford “Lefty” Norling was born March 21, 1936, in Willmar, to Stanford and Ella (Ritz) Norling. He grew up on the Norling Brothers Silo Company farm near Svea and later moved with his family into Willmar. He was baptized at Svea Lutheran Church and confirmed at First Covenant Church in Willmar. He attended school in Svea and Willmar, graduating from Willmar High School in 1956. Lefty served in the US Army in Korea from 1959 to 1960. On January 28, 1961, he married Ruth Ann Backlund in Kandiyohi. Lefty was employed by Norling Brothers Silo Company selling silos for 25 years and later Hanson Silo Company. In 1985, he graduated from Mason City College of Auctioneering and started Norling Henslin Auction Company with LaDon Henslin. Lefty and LaDon were partners for 18 years. Lefty was a member of the Minnesota State and National Auctioneers Associations and was inducted into the state’s Auctioneer Hall of Fame in 2004.
Lefty was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi, where he had served on the church council, as Men’s Club president and on many other committees. He was a former member of the Kandiyohi Men’s Club and the Blomkest Sportsmen’s Club. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, basketball, softball and watching the Minnesota Vikings. Lefty knew someone wherever he went and had a personality that was larger than life. Now he will be able to talk again, telling many stories up in heaven!!!
He is survived by his wife: Ruth Ann Norling of Kandiyohi; three daughters: Jane (and Eugene) Brouillette of St. Michael, Nancy Norling of Wayzata, and Susan (and Chad) Vis of Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren: Emilee, Anthony, and Austin Brouillette, and Noah, Seth, and Ella Vis; and three great-grandchildren: Simone, Derek, and Lakelyn. Also surviving are a sister: Dr. Sharon Norling of Hendersonville, NC; a brother: Donn (and Ione) Norling of Willmar; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
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