Richard Norton Obit

RICHARD NORTINR, 92, died on July 23, 2021, at the home of his daughter in Marion, IA.   Born Sept. 8, 1928, in St Paul, he was the second son of Paul and Ida (Wendt) Nortin.  His family moved out of state while he was young while his father looked for work during the Depression. He graduated from Concordia High School in St Paul in 1946, and spent a year at Concordia College in Moorhead.  In 1948, he enlisted in the US Army.. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY and was stationed at Fort Benning, GA for a short time before being sent to Germany. He loved his time in Europe, especially having the opportunity to travel.  In his later years, he finally felt free to share stories of his service and with the help of his daughter  compiled a short book of his military adventures. Following his discharge, he used the GI Bill to attend Macalester College in St Paul.  There he met Marjorie “Marge” Carlton, the love of his life.  He completed his studies in May 1956, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Journalism.  He landed his first advertising position that summer with Schuneman’s Department Store and the pair married on Sept. 1 that same year.  Over the next decade, four children were born to the couple.   He remained in advertising for more than 25 years, working for other companies such as the original Dayton’s Company, where he was part of the team that developed the Target store concept, Stark Brothers Nurseries, and Gordon’s Jewelers.  In the early 1990s, Richard decided to go out on his own as a printing broker, establishing Printing Cost Control, a company he operated until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, an infant brother, and two granddaughters. He is survived by his sister, Doris Schmidt, his children and their spouses:  Kathy and David Graeff, Paul and Cheryl Nortin, Melissa Renner, Marit “Malena” and Ray Lopez, and foster-daughter April Youngblood as well as 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.   Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2 at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.  Burial will be at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Emily.  A visitation will be on Sunday at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service on Monday.