Norvin Beachem

Norvin Beachem, age 99, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at his home.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Living Hope Fellowship in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. Rev. David Homrighausen will officiate the service. Interment will be at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 10, 2022.

Norvin Ray Beachem was born on August 3, 1923, in Scotland, SD, to Charles and Geneva (Stanton) Beachem. He was the fifth of nine children. In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, the family moved from southern South Dakota to the Cub Wiley Farm east of Ortonville, MN. Norvin graduated from Ortonville High School with the Class of 1941. After graduation, he moved to Bremerton, WA, with his eldest sister, Helen, and her husband, Ray, to work at the Navy shipyard as a shipfitter.

In 1943, Norvin was drafted into the United States Navy and served as a refrigeration machinist on the U.S.S. Sandborn in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Following the war, he moved back to the farm near Ortonville to work with his father.

On June 17, 1958, Norvin was united in marriage with Shirley Ann Lunderville. They lived on the Wiley Farm after Charlie and Geneva moved to town. Together, Norvin and Shirley were blessed with children: Darwin, Gwen, Paul, and April. In 1967, Norvin and Shirley bought their farm seven miles northeast of Ortonville where they welcomed two more children: Beth and Nathan.

In 1980, Norvin and Shirley sold their dairy cattle and equipment and leased the land to their neighbor, Glen Berdan. Norvin continued farming for Glen for many years. He also began working for Robert Pflueger mowing lawn and doing yard maintenance. In the Fall of 1995, Norvin and Shirley moved into town. Norvin mowed the lawn at Mound Cemetery until he was 86 years old.

Gwen and her husband, Jack, moved back to Ortonville to help Norvin and Shirley in 2011. Norvin was able to stay in his home where he died peacefully of old age, surrounded by his family.

Left to cherish Norvin’s memory are his six children: Darwin (LuAnn) Beachem, Gwen (Jack) Whitley, Paul (Lori) Beachem, April Beachem, Beth (Steve) Grube, and Nathan (Renae Redenius) Beachem; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Lavay Anderson, brother, Keith (Janet) Beachem; along with many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Shirley in 2014; his parents; sisters: Helen (Ray) Ludeman, Bliss (Ernest) Gerjets, and Joan (Marvin) Block; brothers: Howard (Anna) Beachem, Ward Beachem, and Dale (Frances) Beachem; and brother-in-law, Royal Anderson.