Norma Bjordal Pierson

Pierson, Norma B., born August 26, 1936, in Sioux City, Iowa, died March 28, 2023, at the age of 86 in Plymouth, Minnesota. Preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John Pierson; parents, Joseph and Margaret Bjordal (Benson); step-father, Otto Benson; sister, Marilyn Moen and brother, Joseph (Bud) Bjordal. Survived by sons, Chris (Becky) of Plymouth and Peter (Suzanne) of Stilwell, KS; grandchildren, Maggie (Anders) Bowman and Christopher (Heather); and a close extended family of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews—whose lives Norma actively shared and celebrated.

Norma grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating from Central High School. She attended Iowa State University for two years, where she was a Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delt) sorority sister, before returning home to Sioux City to help in the care and upbringing of her brother’s children.

Norma married her sweetheart since junior high school, John Pierson, in 1958. She spent many afternoons and evenings attending and cheering her children and grandchildren in their extensive athletic, musical performance, and academic endeavors.

As a musical artist, Norma shared her gifts of piano and vocals in professional and informal arenas. She served as Accompanist and Musical Director of The LeagueAires, a Junior League of Minneapolis musical therapy troup bringing music to care facilities and those with special needs across the region. She was a longtime member of the Saint Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church Choir and Minnetonka Choral Society. While highlights of her musical experiences included performing at the White House and Carnegie Hall, her leading of the carol sing at “Eve Eve,” an annual December 23 gathering of family and friends, will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.  Her musical gift was truly a spark of the divine.

Norma was active in her communities of Sioux City and Wayzata/Plymouth and the greater Twin Cities—a lifelong PEO sister and volunteer with a number of educational and service organizations. She and John were patrons and attendees of the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Guthrie Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and other arts and performance institutions.

Norma cherished her time at a family cabin near Park Rapids, MN, and was active in exploring and hiking with her family from Isle Royale to Glacier National Park to the Tetons to Arctic Alaska. An avid bicyclist, Norma pedaled many of Minnesota Rails-to-Trails offerings with family and friends, and bike-trekked across Austria and Czechoslovakia.

If you wish to offer gifts honoring Norma’s life, please make donations to Rails to Trails (www.railstotrails.org) and/or the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org/site/Donation)—and simply offer spontaneous gifts of kindness whenever the opportunities arise.

There will be a celebration of Norma’s life at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2023 at St. Philip The Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN.

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