Iona Mae "Ione" Norby

IONE NORBY
Iona Mae Norby, known as Ione, formerly of Benson and Montevideo, died in Denver, CO on
Thursday, December 31, 2015 at the age of 85. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday,
January 9, 2016 at 12:00 noon at the Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. Doris Weber
officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was one hour before the service
from 11:00AM to 12:00 noon at the church.
Iona Mae (Knutson) Norby was born on December 8, 1930 in Benson of Swift County, MN to
Richard and Ingeborg (Skarsten) Knutson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Pauli
Lutheran Church and graduated from Benson High School. On June 25, 1955 she was united in
marriage to Wayne P. Norby in Montevideo of Chippewa County, MN. They moved to Denver,
CO in 1963. Ione was a mother and homemaker and also later worked 20 years as a teacher’s
aide at Skinner Middle School in Denver, CO. In retirement she worked another 18 years as a
club level usher at Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies baseball team. She was a member of
Faith Lutheran Church for over 50 years where she was active in the Ladies Bible Study, Circle,
and Quilting. She enjoyed traveling, baking, reading mysteries, running, hiking, puzzles, quilting,
embroidering, and spending time with children and grandchildren. She was a tireless worker her
entire life and gave of herself unceasingly.
She is survived by one daughter, Kay (Charles) Fial of Lafayette, CO; two sons, David
(Kaellyn) Norby of Birmingham, AL and Douglas Norby of Richmond, VA; four grandchildren:
Berkeley and Taylor Fial, Steven Norby and Christopher Norby; one great grandson: Conner
Norby; two sisters: Gladys (Charles) Epple of Minneapolis, MN and Myrt (Michael) McCarthy of
Starbuck, MN and two brothers: Robert (Shirley) Knutson of Plymouth, MN and Ronald (Geri)
Knutson of Coon Rapids, MN; one sister-in-law: Gloria Knutson of Benson, MN; two sisters- and
brothers-in-law: Blanche and Philip Jordahl of Dawson, MN and Janice and Ken Olsen of
Montevideo, MN; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four brothers, Arnold, Kenneth,
Gerald, and Duane; sisters-in-law Helen and Peggy Knutson and infant niece Marcia Knutson.
Memorials are preferred to the your charity of choice.