After a brief illness, Sylvia H. (Schey) Norland, 92, of Virginia, Minn., and a long-time resident of Montevideo, Minn., passed away peacefully on Feb. 13, 2018, at the Essentia - Virginia Hospital. She had resided at the St. Michael’s Health & Rehabilitation Center in Virginia for the past two years.
Sylvia was born July 20, 1925, in Glenwood, Minn., to Hans and Sara (Johannessen) Schey. After graduating from Glenwood High School, she attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she graduated in 1947 with degrees in history and music. On Aug. 16, 1947, she was united in marriage in Glenwood to Ralph B. Norland ‘49 of Starbuck, Minn.
Sylvia and Ralph made their home first in Blackduck, Minn., then Pelican Rapids, Minn., and finally Montevideo, Minn. They started as school teachers, with Ralph eventually becoming a school principal and then a superintendent of schools. Besides being a teacher and substitute teacher, Sylvia developed a studio for private piano lessons and served as a choir director. They also started a family and raised four children: Barbara, Deborah, Michael, and Kristen.
Sylvia and Ralph were longtime members of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo where Sylvia served as the choir director. She retired from directing choirs in 2003 after 54 years of service. Sylvia was very active in her community serving as a member of the AAUW, the Chippewa County Library Board, the Julia Circle, the Senior Advisory Board, Senior Lites, and she was a member of P.E.O. Chapter Q until she passed away. Her family was the most important thing in Sylvia’s life and she treasured family gatherings at the cabin on Lake Mary: the more crowded the cabin was, the better. She and Ralph enjoyed traveling including visits to Norway, Russia, and China. After Ralph’s death, she took a cruise on the Amazon River. Sylvia was an avid reader, loved to play Bridge, as well as cooking, baking, stained glass projects, knitting, and quilting (having been trained by her mother, a talented seamstress). Ralph and Sylvia were proud of their Norwegian heritage, something always reflected during the holidays.
Sylvia is survived by her daughters: Barbara L. Salter of Fayetteville, Ga., Deborah L. Norland ’75 (James Bovee) of Decorah, Iowa, and Kristen (Norland) Weikum ’83 S. (Jim Weikum) of Biwabik, Minn.; daughter-in-law: Barbara (Vaske) Norland ‘79 of Homestead, Fla., and former AFS student Graham (Elaine) Emmet of Johannesburg, South Africa; grandchildren: Erik (Sarah) Salter, Sara Landry, Marit Bovee ‘04, Kara Bovee (Sean Cahill), Katie Norland, Allison (Jon) Norland-Lowe, Hannah (Justin) Adams, Jakob Weikum, and Rebeka Weikum; seven great-grandchildren plus two more on the way; numerous nieces and nephews; extended family and friends. Sylvia was very proud of her children and their families.
Sylvia was preceded in death by Ralph Norland ‘49, her husband of 46 years, in 1994; son: Michael R. Norland ‘79 in 2005; great-granddaughter: Peyton Anita Norland in 2013; son-in-law N. Holsey Salter in 2004; brothers: H. Norman Schey ‘43 and Elmer Schey ‘50; sister: Klara Strand, and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
A prayer service was held March 11, 2018, at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia. Memorial service was at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo on May 19, 2018.