Norva A. Brueland

Norva Ann Hanson was born at home on October 31, 1930 in Callender, Iowa to Peter John and Mary Christine Peterson Hanson, and passed away at home August 20, 2010 with her family at her side. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Callender, Iowa. She attended all 12 years of school at Callender, graduating in 1948 as class valedictorian and class president. She participated in school activities including band, choir, and as a girl's basketball team member all four years of high school, playing in the state basketball tournament two years. Her church activities included participation in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, teaching, choir and youth programs. Other activities included being a 4-H member. After high school, Norva attended Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa and The Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She worked for the Evangelical Lutheran Church's headquarters, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the Luther League office, Stewardship office and the Office of the General Secretary. On August 20, 1955, she married Clyde Eugene Brueland in Callender, Iowa. He was a Luther Seminary student for the next two years, followed by a one year internship at First Lutheran Church, Williston, North Dakota where Norva was employed as the church parish worker. Parishes served after completing seminary were at Huxley and Cambridge, Iowa; Minot, North Dakota; and Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. In each place she participated in youth work, church school, women's groups and choir. In 1978, they moved to Moorhead, Minnesota and Norva went to work at Concordia College. She was the office manager in the Physical Plant Facilities Management Department for 28 years before retiring in July 2006. The students at Concordia were very important to her and she supported their music and theater activities, sports events, especially basketball, chapel and cultural events. In 1999 she was honored with the Flatt Distinguished Service Award for Support Staff for her services to the College. She liked being "mom" and "grandma" to the students. Norva was also an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins. Children born were three sons, Gregory, San Antonio, Texas; Joel, Great Falls, Montana; and Brent, Boone, Iowa; and one daughter, Maren Pechacek, Fargo, North Dakota. Preceding her in death were her parents, brother Eldon Hanson, nephew Tom Davis, granddaughter Nicole Liscum, and many aunts and uncles. Survivors are her children: Gregory Leslie, Joel Shell, Brent Rita, and Maren, 18 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, sisters Edna Veenstra, Des Moines, Iowa, Pearl O'Dell, Bettendorf, Iowa, Goldie Davis, Fort Dodge, Iowa, brother Garland Betty Hanson, Callender, Iowa, Rosie Wes Seaver, sister-in-law, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Verna Joyce Klatt, sister-in-law, Verndale, Minnesota and many nieces and nephews. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has been her church home while living in Moorhead. She was active in the education programs as teacher and principal and women's activities as a Trinity Visitor until her health declined. Two funeral services will be held: the first will begin with a visitation at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead MN Wednesday, August 25th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and services at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Moorhead, MN on Thursday, August 26th at 10:30 a.m. with lunch following; the second will be at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Callender, IA on Saturday, August 28th with visitation at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and services at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Callender cemetery followed by a luncheon at Our Savior's. Norva's family will be donating all memorials to the Norva Brueland scholarship fund that is being created for students working in Concordia's Facilities Management department. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting memorials be made for that purpose.