Obituary of Olaf Norbye

Olaf Magne Norbye, 81, of Limon, Colorado passed away on December 31, 2011 at the Kindred Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Olaf was born May 14, 1930 in rural Limon, Colorado to Ingebrigt and Karen (Langli) Norbye, one of seven children born. They were Norwegian immigrants who settled in Montana in 1912 and later moved to the ranch north of Limon. They grew up north of Limon, Colorado and Olaf graduated from Limon High School in 1948. He was very active in high school where he played football, basketball and track. He was also a member of the Glee and L Clubs. After high school, Olaf worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the United States Army. Olaf served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952-1954. He served with the 14th “Thunderbird” Infantry Unit. He was honorably discharged in September of 1954 where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He earned the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, ROK Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal. Olaf was very proud to be a veteran and he was always very proud of his fellow veterans who served and sacrificed their lives. His patriotism did not go unnoticed and on Sunday, May 30, 2010, Olaf with the Joe Will VFW Post 6612, organized and led a special ceremony for Veterans at the Walks Camp Lutheran Church. He just wanted to show the community how much he cared for veterans and how he wanted to remember and pay tribute to all that have sacrificed and that we should never forget. He was quoted as saying that compiling the list of names and presenting the program was one of the proudest moments of his life. After Olaf got out of the Army, he came back to help with the family farm and when his father passed away in 1955; he and his brother Pete took over his father’s farm operations. He raised cattle and farmed wheat until they sold the farm in 1989. Olaf began trucking for a living and hauled grain for three years as well as Portland Cement Powder all over the state of Colorado. Olaf loved the trucking life very much and enjoyed his time on the open road. The only reason Olaf stopped driving a truck was because of his health that would no longer allow him to continue his work. Olaf always stayed positive regardless and made the best of every situation. It was just his nature to always keep moving forward and his never give up mentality. Olaf had a passion for horses. He enjoyed team roping and always enjoyed a good rodeo. He played the accordion and collected old tractors as a hobby. In his later years, he liked photography and collecting pictures. Olaf loved to watch football, especially his Green Bay Packers. He was a hard working, quiet and modest man. However, he had quit the sense of humor too and was known for a good practical joke. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends, especially his nieces and nephews that he loved so much. Olaf‘s spirit will continue on in the daily lives of everyone he touched forever… Olaf was a member of the Joe Will V.F.W. Post 6612 in Hugo where he was also a former commander. He was also a member of the Farmers Union. Olaf was preceded in death by his parents, a little brother, Olaf Magne; one sister, Olive Calvert, wife Nancy Norbye; a sister-in-law, Arlene Norbye; two brother-in-laws, Gerald Lohmeier and Fallice Calvert; and two nieces, Anna (Norbye)Dieckman and Lawanda Calvert. Olaf is survived by one brother Peder (Dorice) Norbye of Limon, Colorado; three sisters, Rosalia Lohmeier of Limon, Colorado, Ovidia (Bob) Smith of Fremont, Nebraska and Inga (Tip) Pirkle of Aurora, Colorado; six step children; and by numerous step grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and cousins all over the U.S.A. and Norway.