Bonita Norlander

Bonita Turvold Norlander passed away at age 83 on October 1, 2023 in hospice in Edina, MN, with her husband by her side. She had suffered a stroke in May 2021, and struggled recently with liver and kidney problems. Born May 31, 1940 at home in Northwood, IA to Edna Walswick Turvold and Odean Turvold, the second of four daughters. Bonnie graduated from Northwood High School in 1958, and attended Waldorf College in Forest City, IA. She met her future husband Wally while working at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and they married in August of 1963. They lived for a time in Alexandria, VA while he was assigned to Fort Belvoir, and Bonnie worked for the Air Force at the Pentagon. She returned in 1964 to the U of M, and eventually took a position as Secretary to the Principal at Creek Valley Elementary in Edina, which she held until her retirement in 2002. Bonnie was a tireless worker with a natural instinct for interior design and homemaking. She always knew ‘what went with what.’ She was a sports fan: Vikings, Twins and pro golf. She and Wally traveled to three Vikings Super Bowls, two Masters tournaments and saw two Twins World Series championships. Over the years, they had season tickets to Gopher football and basketball games and to the Vikings. She enjoyed traveling, both with Wally and with her family---among their destinations were Norway, Germany, New York, California, and Las Vegas and they enjoyed four cruises. She is preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Gary, and elder sister Della Newlin. She is survived by her husband Wally, her sister Nelda Turvold of Northwood, her sister Lorrie Turvold DeYoung of Forest Lake, MN, and her Goddaughter Demi DeYoung of Beverly Hills, CA. To honor Bonnie’s wishes, there will be no services or ceremonies. Interment of ashes will be at South Shell Rock cemetery in Northwood.