Louise Ann (Ganje) Nordin

Louise Ann (Ganje) Nordin, 84, of Calgary, AB and Fargo, ND, died Monday, September 2, 2024, at her home following a brief illness.

Louise was born on September 9, 1939, in Edmore, North Dakota, as the youngest of three daughters to Henry and Inga (Strand) Askelson. She grew up in Edmore, where she was confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church and attended Edmore Public School.

During her high school years, Louise spent summers living with her older sister, Betty, and her husband, Bill Rogers, in Lead, South Dakota, while working at the historic Franklin Hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota. She also worked in Edmore at the Johnson Store. Louise graduated from Edmore High School in 1957.

Louise met a U.S. Army sergeant from Devils Lake, North Dakota, named Norbert Ganje. They married on February 7, 1959, in Devils Lake. Norbert also served in the U.S. Air Force, and they briefly lived on base in Minot, North Dakota. Over the next five years, they were blessed with three children and lived in several North Dakota communities before settling in Cavalier, North Dakota.

Louise was a dedicated homemaker and actively involved in her children’s lives through 4-H, Scouting, and various school and church activities. As her children grew older, she worked in retail and as a paraprofessional at Cavalier Public School. She was known for her love of kids and neighbors and always had plenty of food and snacks to share. Family time often included fishing and camping trips in the summer, along with family gatherings in Edmore, Devils Lake, and the Black Hills.

In 1978, the Ganje family moved to Lisbon, North Dakota, where they lived for about 10 years. Louise made many new friends and enjoyed socializing with her neighbors. She worked as the Activity Director at the Lisbon Community Memorial Nursing Home, where she took pride in caring for residents who became her friends. In 1988, Louise and Norbert moved to Fargo (Argusville) to semi-retire and be closer to family. She continued working with the elderly and took a position as an activities director at Fargo Nursing Home (Rosewood on Broadway) until her retirement. Norbert was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and passed away in October of that year. Louise continued to work for a few more years before retiring from Rosewood.

In 2000, Louise married Nils Nordin at her church in Argusville. For many years, they maintained residences in Argusville and Calgary, Alberta. They enjoyed traveling, including special trips to Sweden, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. Louise was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished family gatherings, especially hosting Christmas celebrations with her traditions of BINGO and White Elephant gifts. She had a natural warmth and charisma, and her generosity was one of her most cherished traits, often expressed through sending greeting cards and gifts to friends and relatives.

Louise left an imprint on many and is survived by her husband, Nils, children, Melody (Jim) Spangelo, Fargo, ND, Michael (Dawn) Ganje, Ada, MN, Michelle (Mark) Kerbaugh, West Fargo, ND, Perry (Natalie) Nordin, Calgary, AB, Jeff (Tracy) Nordin, Regina, SK, Preston (Jackie) Nordin, Calgary, AB, grandchildren Jennifer (Scott), Stacie (Mike), Kellie (Andy), Michael (Chelsey), Allie (Kyle), Austin, Sabrina, Justin, Ashley, Shayla, Kaitlin, Kennedy, Mathew, and Madison, great grandchildren, Lukin, Parker, Ella, Evan, Amelia, Norman, Lawrence, Carter, Emry, and Bronson, several nieces and nephews, many cousins, sisters-in-law, Tina Koski, Siri (Don) Franklin, Liz (Harry) Stercl, and brother-in-law, Carl (Dodie) Nordin. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Norbert, sisters, Betty Rogers and Gail Hook and granddaughter, Stephanie Spangelo.

Celebration of Life Service: 2:00pm Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Hanson Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND.

Visitation: One hour before the service at the funeral home.

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.

Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes Ada, Minnesota
Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, North Dakota