Norman Midboe

Norman S. Midboe, age 93, Grand Forks, ND died Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in Valley Memorial Home Woodside Village. Norman was born January 25, 1922 in Northwood, ND, the son of Sander and Annette Midboe. He graduated from Northwood High School in 1940. After spending one year on the family farm he moved to Grand Forks in October of 1941 and learned how to fly aircraft at the Grand Forks Municipal Airport. He also became Assistant Airport Manager serving under Manager Titus Richards. After considerable flight training he acquired a commercial pilots license and a commercial flight instructor rating. During 1943 and 1944 he was employed as a Flight Instructor for the Army Air Force War Training Service at the Grand Forks Airport. This was followed by active duty in the Army Air Force during the remainder of World War II. He returned to Grand Forks and resumed his duties as Assistant Airport Manager on January 1, 1946. He served in that capacity until November 14, 1960 at which time he began to serve as Acting Airport Manager. On January 1, 1961 he received a permanent appointment as Airport Manager. He was one of the key figures in the planning and construction of the new Grand Forks International Airport located four miles west of the old airport and north of Highway 2 that was opened for public use on February 1, 1964. Up until his appointment as Airport Manager, he was very active on a part-time basis as a Commercial Flight Instructor and instructed numerous Grand Forks businessmen and others in the art of flying. He was a Charter Member of the Civil Air Patrol which had its beginnings during World War II and which civilians had to join in order to remain eligible to fly during the war. During his flying career he also did a considerable amount of aerial crop spraying. Under his management from 1961 until February 1, 1984, the airport was under constant development. The original construction cost of the new airport was approximately three million dollars and at the time of his retirement, the airport had reached a value of approximately 15 million dollars and was free from all dept. He married Fay Leino on December 8, 1943 in Grand Forks. Following his retirement,he and his wife Fay did a lot of traveling to about 50 countries all over the world. He is survived by his daughter Beverly (Mike) Moulton of Nielsville, MN; one granddaughter Marie Moulton & 4 Great Grandchildren of Oceanside, CA; and a sister Alice(Marvin) Johnson of Velva, ND He was preceded in death by his brothers Kermit and Carl; sisters Evelyn (Merrill)Francis, Ellenore (Roy) Eidoen and Tillie (Charles) Kerbaugh; and his wife Fay. Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2015 in United Lutheran Church of Grand Forks. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a 7:30 PM Prayer Service in Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will continue for the hour before the service in the church. Burial and Military Honors will be in Memorial Park South Cemetery of Grand Forks.