Walter R. Norbeck died at home Monday, September 21, 2015 at the age of 88. He was born in Two Harbors, MN on November 15, 1926 to Mary and Abram Norbeck. He graduated from Willow River MN High School in 1945, and was drafted into the Army, reporting for training 1 week before the end of WWII.  He served in Italy and Germany, and returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Betty Mae Anderson in 1949.  He received training as an Instrument Technician at Dunwoody Institute under the G.I. Bill, and upon graduation received a job offer at Hanford.

Walt and Betty have made Richland their home since 1952 except for seven years Walt spent working at Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant in Red Wing, MN in the 1970’s.  Walt enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing and woodworking.  He remodeled every home they owned, and when he ran out of remodeling projects, he started making beautiful oak furniture, and when he couldn’t lift heavy boards anymore, he began making scrollwork clocks and jewelry boxes for Betty and his daughter, granddaughters and nieces.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: John, Roy and Art Norbeck, and sister, Pearl Christensen and his son, Steven.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty; his sister, Shirley Erickson; sister-in-laws, Margaret Norbeck and Lorraine Elledge, his daughter, Debra (Dan) Smith; grandchildren, Zach Smith, Alex Smith,  Mandy (Dan) Spencer, Kimberli (Coleman) Fredericks; and five great-grandchildren, Brandan Norbeck, Hunter Spencer, Kiera Norbeck-Fredericks, Colter and Cannon Fredericks and many nieces and nephews.  He was never happier than when he was with his family.