Carlene Norberg was born in 1934 in Longmont, CO. She was the daughter of Carl and Reathel Nygren. At 90 years she died November 10, 2024 peacefully at Sugarbrook Villa, Cohasset, MN. Carlene was a popular girl at the High School in Longmont, CO and excelled academically. She worked as a church secretary and met the love of her life Ole through a series of remarkable and fated circumstances, marrying on June 27, 1954.  Both of them desiring a large family, had five children, Michael, Carol, Janice, Diane, and Karen. By virtue of hard work and good fortune, along with a grounded Christian faith they lived the American dream.  Carlene actively engaged in raising her children.  The importance of a good education was instilled in her children with all of them receiving college degrees and most have additional advanced degrees as well.

Carlene and Ole loved to travel, visiting New Zealand, Australia, England, Sweden, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, the Caribbean, and all of the continental United States.  Carlene was gifted with a broad array of artistic abilities, she wrote a novel though it never got published, she loved doing ceramics, wood carving, painting, gardening, and flowers.  Carlene lived out her love for neighbor with an open door and coffee always on. She made countless visits and cookies and hotdishes for others and as a hospice volunteer for a number of years and was active in the church, particularly with global Christian mission outreach.  Carlene lived a full life.  She is loved and will be missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl Nygren and Reathel Bernard; husband, Olaf in 2017 and daughter, Karen Kay in 1988.

Carlene is survived by her son, Michael (Silvia) Norberg; daughters, Carol (Stu) Sinykin, Janice (Bob) Vogel, Diane (Mark) Klenotich; nine grandchildren, Sharlene (Jarrod) Miller, Kristine (Matthew) Borgardt, Karine (Jason) Norberg-Yancy, Daniel (Masha) Sinykin, Andrew Sinykin, Alexander Sinykin, Sara Vogel, Jordan Klenotich, Carlee (David) Thompson; six great grandchildren, Ava and Sienna Miller, John, Elena, and Anna Borgardt, Eulia Vlasova Sinykin, and Emma Thompson; and many nieces and nephews.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the wonderful staff at Sugar Brook Villa and Majestic Pines assisted living and Memory Care facilities for the exceptional attendant care provided for these many years as well as Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Cohasset and Carmel Lutheran Church in Jacobson for their diligence keeping Carlene in their prayers and visitation.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10:00am at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Cohasset, MN followed by the funeral service at 11:00am. Rev. Mark Peske will officiate. Burial will be at Ball Bluff Cemetery, Jacobson, MN.

Memorial gifts will be given to Essentia Hospice, Sugar Brook Villas and Our Redeemer Lutheran Mission Outreach.

Arrangements are with the Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.