Norman Barge

Norman C. Barge, age 90, of Parkers Prairie, died on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, October 12, 2020, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie with Rev. Kirk Lee officiating. Music is provided by organist, Jan Heins and vocalist, Amanda Leger-Harewood. Norman's service will be live streamed from his obituary page on the funeral home’s website and broadcast live on 105.3 FM radio to cars parked in the church parking lot. Interment will take place at Parkers Prairie Cemetery.

A visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church and continue one hour prior to the service.

Please honor all COVID 19 health mandates, including social distancing and wearing of a mask to both events at the church. Also, no funeral luncheon will be served following the service due to COVID.

Norman was born on January 20, 1930, to Harry and Leona (Schultz) Barge in Madelia. He attended DMLC in New Ulm and Concordia College in St. Paul. Following his education he taught in a one-room school house in Appleton, Minnesota, in the early 1950s, followed by selling Watkins for four years. Norman was united in marriage to Ardith Munsterman on October 4, 1952, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Shible Township, near Appleton. He owned and operated, with his wife and children, Barge’s B&B Store in Wood Lake, from 1958 to 1992. After retirement he worked part-time as an activities aide at Parkview Nursing Home in Belview. In May of 2000, Norman and Ardith moved to Parkers Prairie, where they resided until their deaths.

Norman was active in the communities in which he lived, including serving as Mayor and President of the Commercial Club, in Wood Lake. He served on the Evangelism Committees at St. Luke’s Lutheran in Wood Lake and Immanuel Lutheran in Parkers Prairie, as well as teaching confirmation, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School classes. Norman was a faithful participant and leader of the Tuesday Morning Bible Breakfast Class at Immanuel Lutheran. He also served as Chairman of the MN North District Youth Committee, was on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Island Camp, and was a member of the task force to create Christ Serve Ranch.

Norman loved to socialize with anyone and everyone, remembered an incredible amount of details and history, was excited to see his great-grandchildren, had a close relationship with his grandson Ryan, and had a deep, abiding faith in his Lord and Savior. Blessed be his memory.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ardith; daughter, Cheryl; parents; and infant sister, Lenore.

Norman is survived by his five children, Nita (Ken) Drews of Parkers Prairie, Bruce (Carol) Barge of Napa, California, Miriam (David) West of Minneapolis, Melanie (Dan) Leger of Laporte, and Darcy (Alan) Peppersack of Parkers Prairie; five siblings, Elaine (Jack) Byrnside of Columbus, Georgia, Warren (Mary Ann) Barge of Greenwood, Arkansas, Doris Weatherford of Tampa, Florida, Ralph (Melba) Barge of Damascus, Arkansas, and Margaret (Allan) Motley of Pottsville, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Rachel (John Landefeld) Barge of Sacramento, California, Matthew Barge of Farmers Branch, Texas, Amanda (Francois) Leger-Harewood of Minneapolis, Sarah (Patrick) Mischke of Maplewood, Laura (Nathan) Westad and Ryan Peppersack both of Parkers Prairie, and Skyler West of Minneapolis; great-grandchildren, Tenley, Owen, Ella and baby boy Westad, Rose and Cora Mischke, and Louisa Landefeld; special friend, Erna Christensen; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Pallbearers are his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are the Immanuel Tuesday Morning Bible Breakfast Class and his great-grandchildren.