Norman Vigen

Posted 5/22/02

Funeral services for Norman Calmer Vigen, 79, were scheduled Wednesday, May 22 at the First Congregational Church in Princeton. Burial was in Oak Knoll Cemetery in Princeton.

Arrangements were by the Williams-Hanson-Kaun Funeral Home at Princeton.

Mr. Vigen died Saturday, May 18, 2002, at his home in Foreston.

He was born Sept. 25, 1922 on his grandfatherís farm in Stoney Brook Township, Grant County, Minn., to Sander and Evelyn (Erickson) Vigen. He grew up and attended rural school near Elbow Lake. At age 16, the family moved to a farm near Fergus Falls and later to a farm near Foxhome, Minn.

He married Patricia Ann Garies Nov. 15, 1949 in Breckenridge. The couple moved several times as his job as an L.P. gas manager required. They spent the last 20 years in Foreston where he retired in 1989.

Norm loved to dance and roller skate. He was a leader in converting farm tractors to propane. Farming, woodworking, home movies, yard work, photography, music and traveling were some of his favorite hobbies. He spent the last few years burning his albums and tapes onto CDs. He always remained a farm boy at heart, from hiring out for thrashing at age 11 to enjoying his John Deere tractor for yard work. Norm made several wooden toys and treasures for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Norm is survived by his wife, Patricia of Foreston; four children, Norma Spurgen and her husband Robert of Atkins, Iowa, Duane Vigen of Denver, Colo., Dale Vigen of Princeton, and Julia Knapp and her husband Daniel of Princeton; four grandchildren, Dacia Stevenson, Shannan Knapp, Ben Spurgen and Molly Spurgen; great-grandchild, Samantha Gilsrud-Stevenson; three sisters, Gloria Aasness of Fergus Falls, Dorothy Bjerkness of Fergus Falls and Delight Loeks and her husband Wildy of Campbell, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Evadel Saunders and Irene Mesna; brother, Sander Vigen, Jr. and good friend Oliver "Spike" Mesna.