Norman Tolo

Norman Luther Tolo, 76, a loving husband, father, son, brother, grandpa, and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, December 17, 2007 at his winter home in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Norman was born on April 16, 1931 to Pastor and Mrs. G.W. Tolo in Fertile, Minnesota. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. While at Concordia he married Norma Grant of Osakis, Minnesota.

He continued his education at the University of Minnesota receiving a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Social Work in 1954. He served as an officer in the military at the Army hospital in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Norm's career path led to St. Joseph, Missouri where he was the Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center, serving the community for forty years until his retirement in April, 1996. He was active in his church, serving many years on the church council, including many leadership roles, and teaching an adult education class each Sunday. Since retirement, Norm and his loving wife, Norma, split their time living on Lake Miltona, Minnesota and in Fountain Hills, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling with frequent visits to their six children and twelve grandchildren and were ardent campers.

Norman is survived by Norma, his beloved wife of 56 years; six children: Rebecca Hakimian of Casselberry, Florida, David Tolo of Omaha, Nebraska, Elizabeth Rappolt of Carlsbad, California, William Tolo of Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Tolo of Scottsdale, Arizona and Marti Holtrop of Bellevue, Washington; two brothers: Paul Tolo of Peoria, Illinois, and J. David Tolo of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and one sister, Ruth Siegle of Moorhead, Minnesota, and one sister-in-law Eldred Frerichs of Maynard, Minnesota, and twelve grandchildren: Lailee, Cara, Hallie, John, Jessica, Andrew, Sidney, Tyler, Victoria, Graham, Luke and Henri. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Lillian Tolo, brothers-in-law Henry Frerichs, Norman Grant, and Ray Siegle.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, 822 Douglas Street, Alexandria, Minnesota, 56308. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service with reception to follow. Internment will be at Crow River Lutheran Cemetery in rural Belgrade, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to First Lutheran Church of Alexandria, Mount Carmel Ministries or Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.