Norman Neumann

Norman Neumann, 84, of Fargo, ND, died Thursday, July 15, 2010, at Sheyenne Crossing, West Fargo, ND. Norm was born to John and Christina (Baisch) Neumann in Elgin, ND, on February 6, 1926. He was the 14th of 17 children in the Neumann family. He graduated from Elgin High School, started college at Westmar College in LeMars, IA, and transferred to Jamestown College, where he graduated in 1947. While he was still in college, Norm was asked to cover the preaching at the Tuttle – Pleasant Hill churches. While he was in seminary at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, IL, Norm was an assistant pastor at the Humboldt Park and Trinity EUB churches in Chicago, and best of all, he met Jean Kaufman on a blind date, and they were married on October 8, 1949 in Chicago. Norm took his big city wife to his first charge in Napoleon, ND, for a year, and then moved to Fargo where Norm had been assigned to Calvary Church. The three sons, Scott, Larry, and Todd were all born in Fargo, before the family moved to Minot where Norm pastored at Trinity (Faith) church. Prior to the merger between the EUB’s and the Methodists in 1967, Norm became the District Superintendent of the Northern District of the Dakota Conference for the EUB’s. This included moving the family back to Fargo, where he continued as the District Superintendent for the Eastern District in ND with the new United Methodist Church. In 1973, after his term as the DS, the family moved to Grand Forks where Norm began 12 years as senior pastor at Wesley UM church. Jean lost a battle with cancer in 1983, and Norm agreed to become the DS for the Central District, based out of Jamestown. Norm was ready to retire in 1990, and moved to Fargo where he joined First Church and became active in the choir and as a visitation pastor. He relished his duties as head coffee maker for the Thursday Morning Coffee Group. Norm also took on the position of Executive Director of the newly created ND United Methodist Foundation, and later became a District representative for that group. Blessed retirement allowed Norm to become a world traveler, often with his good friend Jo Hurley; and he spent many summers at the cottage at Minaki, Ontario, Canada, hosting family and friends and many fishing camps as a part of the Conference Camping program. About five years ago, Norm was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Even though there must have been some bitter moments, we never saw them. Norm was a “model camper”, living as long as he could in his condo, and then recognizing the need to get full time help, he moved to the Memory Care Unit at Sheyenne Crossings in West Fargo. We will always be grateful for the loving care provided to Norm at his final residence. Funeral Service: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at 10:00 AM, at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold. Burial: Memorial Park, Grand Forks, ND.