Norman Skiftun’s soul was received by his maker on 25 May 2010. A memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on 5 June at 11AM. He was born Nov 2, 1918 to Ole & Mabel Skiftun on the family farm near Parshall North Dakota. There he grew up attending the Spring Valley grade-school and 3 years of High School. His family moved to the Flathead Valley in 1937 where he completed his high-school education, graduating from Flathead High in 1939. Farming with his father in the Lower Valley until 1942, the family then moved to the Swan River community.
During this time he met Louise Lynch, and they began a courting relationship until their ultimate marriage on 3 Oct. 1943 in Somers. They made their first home in a small farm house with no electricity or running water. Being an outdoorsman at heart, he continued farming, custom-combining and grain hauling. Winter coming on, harvest’s complete, supplemental income was made by cutting and hauling Xmas trees.
Having an avid interest in electronics, his course of study turned to radio and the new advent of television, for installation & repair. Bitney’s hired him as a sales and repair person. In those early days, many areas in the Flathead were hard-pressed to find a signal for the newly acquired TV’s. This became a challenge for Norm, as he fought the “signal challenge,” and when attained, many-a-family were jubilant with picture and sound.
The family made their first trip to Alaska in 1957 where he did some long-shoring and masonry work, also finding that Seward had no TV. It was his goal to attempt to figure a way to obtain the proper signal. Returning to Seward during the next summer he again was unable to find a TV signal, it just wasn’t there. In 1959 the family moved to Sitka Alaska where he worked as an electrical contractor wiring a housing project for a year. They then returned to Bigfork where he continued to work for Dewy Martin as an electrician. Time evolved and Norm ventured on his own to continue his electrical work, well into his eighties.
Norm and Louise loved to travel, venturing about Alaska and Canada, Hawaii and a much of America. Being a gifted musician, Norm played numerous instruments, singing in the Bethany Lutheran church’s choir for 60 + years and in several quartets for the majority of his life.
Norm was preceded in death by Louise, his wife of 64 years, his parents, sisters; Opal Skiftun, Benida Brosten and Lil Baker. Surviving Norm are daughters; Aneda (Ray) Wykoff of Great Falls, Cathy Anderson of Douglas AK, Carol Carter of Juneau AK; Grandsons; Steve (Kristen) Childers of Cour d’Alene ID, Morgan (Diana) Carter of Juneau AK; Granddaughters; Lori(Jeff) Cormier of Kalispell, Megan Carter of New York; Great Grandchildren; Cody Childers, Jordan Carter, Tristan Carter, Andrew Perez, Garrett Cormier; Sisters; Arlene Kjos of Kalispell, Margie McClure of Boise ID, Fern(Bill) Hartford of Honolulu HI and numerous Nieces and Nephews.
Being a gentle mannered person, Norm always said he never met a man he didn’t like, and was very proud of his Norwegian and ND heritage. As his sole now traverses into etrnity; we bid Norman Skiftun farewell. He will be sorely missed.
Memorials may be made to WINGS, P.O. Box 7852, Kalispell, MT 59904; Bethany Lutheran Church, Bigfork, MT or a favorite charity.