Phyllis LaVonne Norton

Phyllis LaVonne Anderson Norton

September 11, 1937 - October 23, 2025

Phyllis Norton was a hard working woman with a serving heart. She was the oldest of six children, born to Peter and Edna (Restad) Anderson in Pelican Rapids, MN on September 11, 1937 where she grew up on a farm near Grove Lake Lutheran Church.

She grew up doing the typical things of farm life such as tending the garden and animals, canning, sewing, cooking, and spending her evenings at the family piano singing four-part harmony with her sisters. As youngsters the Anderson girls were featured on the local radio and throughout the years submitted to requests (demands!) to perform at many family gatherings, flawlessly singing favorites such as “Mr. Sandman.”

Phyllis was a bright girl, the champion of the regional spelling bee in 8th grade earning her the chance to compete in Minneapolis. She graduated high school at age 16 and headed to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN completing the two-year provisional license teaching program at the age of 18. She taught for one year in Morris, MN and another year in Osakis, MN. It was during her first year of teaching that she met her future husband, Jim. They married on June 1, 1958 and she took a brief pause from teaching when they moved to Wausau, WI. In 1961, when she and Jim moved to Alexandria, she had her favorite job, teaching music at the Forada country school for 1 ½ years until her temporary MN teaching license expired.

The first of the five girls, Lynn, was born in Wausau. The Nortons moved to Alexandria in 1960 and by 1965 four more daughters, Shari, René, Cathy, and Debbie, were born. The five girls were nurtured by Phyllis’ skills in gardening, canning, cooking, bread making, sewing and other creative activities. She somehow managed to facilitate the girls’ involvement in church and school activities, girl scouts, piano lessons, and, of course, their work schedule at Funland which they purchased in the early seventies. In the midst of all these family obligations Phyllis was busy as the bookkeeper for Norton’s Refrigeration. Nonetheless, she found time to volunteer as a Sunday School, Wednesday School and Vacation Bible School teacher at First Lutheran and as a girl scout leader.

Music was very life-giving for Phyllis. At First Lutheran she was a music leader in the Sunday school program, sang in the church choir, and played in the handbell choir. For a short time she taught piano lessons. Most importantly, she was a charter member of the Alexandria chapter of Sweet Adelines. She sang baritone in the group and in her quartet. She sewed costumes for performances. Most of all she loved going to the competitions, even if it was just to watch, and treasured the friendships with other women who loved to sing.

Phyllis was happiest when the family was together. The home on Edgewater Drive that Phyllis and Jim built in 1999 was built with the intention of accommodating a growing family. Christmas might have been her favorite time of the year. Upon arrival, everyone was greeted with a joyful “You’re here!” and a warm hug. Her signature iced sugar cookies and Norwegian bakery became the definition of Christmas for three generations of Norton descendants.

Phyllis loved that home but when she required more daily living assistance she moved into Windmill Ponds in June 2024. She enjoyed her sunny apartment and the caring community. In mid-September 2025 treatments for a blood condition were discontinued when it was clear they were no longer helping her. Phyllis approached her final days with some of her key qualities: pragmatically, she specified details for her funeral; joyfully, she received visitors; and gratefully, she accepted the help of her daughters, the caregivers at Windmill Ponds, and the Moments Hospice team. She died in her home at Windmill Ponds with family by her side on October 23, 2025.

Phyllis is survived by four of her daughters: Lynn (Bill) Thoennes of Alexandria, MN, René (Phil) Johnson of Eagle Harbor, MI, Cathy (Dennis) Leipzig of Miltona, MN, and Debbie Norton of Alexandria, MN; and eleven grandchildren along with thirteen great-grandchildren: Jacob (Sherri) Thoennes of Sauk Centre, MN and their children James, Jax and Jaelyn, Becky Thoennes of Alexandria, MN, and her boys Brody and Beau, Jordan (Shania) Thoennes of Alexandria, MN, and their daughter Lyrik, Brent (Cassie) Widmark of Shoreview, MN, and their children Josie and Archie, Brian (Leah) Widmark of Wausau, WI, and their children Ella and Milo, Britta (Nick) Muschinske of Wausau, WI and their children Etta Mae and Fletcher, Bryce Widmark of Wausau, WI, Simon (Amy) Youngbloom of Tacoma, WA, and their daughter Vivian, Neal (Ellyn Hurst) Johnson of Tacoma, WA, Ella Leipzig of Milwaukee, WI, and Parker Leipzig of Miltona, MN. Phyllis is also survived by three sisters and one brother: Ione Gjerde of Amery, WI, Carol McCarthy of Moorhead, MN, Chuck Anderson of Kasson-Mantorville, MN, and Mary Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, daughter, Shari Widmark and son-in-law, Scott Widmark, as well as her parents, Peter and Edna Anderson and sister Ginny Hilden.

A funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church, Alexandria, on November 1, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Kinkead Cemetery.  Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church or Moments Hospice.