About Us

First Generation

This biography is taken from the "History of the Red River Valley Past and Present Including an Account of the Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages of the Valley from the Time of Their First Settlement and Formation. Vol. 2.” Printed in 1909. “Moses Norman is one of the wideawake businessmen of Grand Forks, N.D., who has attained success by faithful, honest work. He was born at Henderson, in Sibley County, Minn., September 9, 1863, and is a son of Nelson and Mary (Riley) Norman, the former of French and later of Irish lineage. He traces his ancestry back to the colonial day, his great-great-grandfather Norman being a soldier in the Revolutionary War and losing his life in the Battle of Bunker Hill. His parents were married and lived in Rome, N.Y., and moved from there to Minnesota in 1847. A sister of Mr. Norman’s father has for fifty-five years been Mother Superior of Hotel Dieu St. Joseph, a Catholic hospital at Montreal, Canada. She is a grandniece of Mgr. Plessit, bishop of Quebec. Our subject acquired a common school education, and at the age of nineteen, in 1882, left home and settled at Grand Forks and engaged in farming for two years. In 1884 he went to Lakota, in Nelson country, and was in business there as an undertaker and funeral director until 1901, when he returned to Grand Forks and established the undertaking and furniture business to which he has since devoted his attention. Mr. Norman has always been more or less active in public and civil affairs, and has been honored with numerous positions of confidence and trust. He has served on the local school board continuously since 1895 and has been absent from only four board meetings in that time. He is president of the Furniture Dealers Association of North Dakota, president of the Irish American Club of Grand Forks, and holds membership in Grand Forks Lodge No. 255 Elks and No. 1260 Knights of Columbus. In politics, he has always been a Democrat, while his religious affiliation is with the Roman Catholic church. On June 2, 1889, Mr. Norman married Miss Ella Clara Lynch, the wedding ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Mexter at St. Michael’s church. Of the six children born to them, Paul V., the eldest, is associated with his father in business; Gertrude is attending high school, where she will be graduated in June, 1909; Legare is a student at Union Commercial College; Keneth and Lawrence are in the eighth grade at the Wilder school, and Helena, the youngest, six years old, is at home.”

Moise "Mose" Norman 1863-1936

Second Generation

Paul V. Norman Sr. (1887-1973). Paul Vincent Norman was born May 28, 1887, in Lakota, ND. Paul came to Grand Forks in 1890 with his parents, attended Wilder Elementary School, and graduated from Central High School. He attended the University of North Dakota and later graduated from the Cincinnati School of Embalming, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was employed with Norman Funeral Home until 1940. Later in 1940, he joined Barnes and Carruthers Theatrical Company as a stagehand. He also worked with the Black Hills Passion Play Company and toured with the production company. Ligore “Lee” T. Norman Sr. (1891-1947) Lee Thomas Norman was born in Grand Forks, ND, on December 8, 1891. He attended grade school in Grand Forks and graduated from St John’s High School in Collegeville, MN. Later, he attended St. Thomas College, St. Paul, MN, and the University of North Dakota. He was associated with Norman Funeral Home until 1923, when he went on the road for a Chicago furniture supply firm, continuing in that employment until he assumed management of the funeral home in 1937. Throughout his life, Lee had been an ardent circus fan, interesting himself in all circus activities affecting the Grand Forks area and, at one time in the early 1920s, being employed as an advance agent for the old Robbins Brothers Circus. Kenneth J. Norman (1893-1934). Kenneth James Norman was born February 3, 1893, in Grand Forks, ND. Ken graduated from Central High School and attended Business College in Grand Forks. Later, he was employed in the government revenue service at Aberdeen, SD, where he enlisted in the United States Army, serving 10 months during World War One. Following his discharge from service, Ken returned to Grand Forks and was employed up until his death at Norman Funeral Home. Lawrence “Babe” M. Norman Lawrence Michael Norman was born August 11, 1896, in Grand Forks, ND. He graduated from Central High School and attended the University of North Dakota, afterward graduating from the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science in 1932. That year, he opened the Norman Funeral Home in Crookston, MN. He retired in 1972 after 50 years of service in the funeral business.

Standing (L-R): Lawrence Norman, Ligore "Lee" T. Norman Sr., Paul Norman Sr. Seated (L-R): Kenneth Norman, Mose Norman

Third Generation

Jack and Robert Norman continued to provide funeral services until their retirements. Lee "Bud" Norman, Jr. preceded them in death in 1965.

Top photo: Standing(L-R): Robert "Bob" Norman, Lee T. Norman Jr., John "Jack" Norman Seated: Lee T. Norman Sr. (circa 1941) Bottom: Bob, Lee Jr., Jack (circa 1962)

Fourth Generation

Gregory J. Norman is the fourth generation of the family to carry on the Norman Tradition of funeral service. Gregory Norman established the Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel on So. Washington St. on July 1, 1993, offering traditional and alternative funeral services in the compassionate and caring manner of the Norman Tradition. In July 2002, Gregory acquired the interests of the Norman Funeral Home on Columbia Rd. and consolidated the two firms at the So. Washington Street location. In the fall of 2011, additional parking was added, doubling the existing parking. Also, a grand gathering space was built, called the Gertrude Norman Memorial Room, to accommodate gatherings for luncheons after funerals and vigils.