Norris L. Ecklund, 78, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Nebraska.

Norris was born October 5th, 1933, in Smithfield, Nebraska, son of Carl and Osa (Butts) Ecklund.

He grew up in Elwood, Nebraska and graduated from Elwood High School in 1951. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1956 with at Bachelors in Education. He married Carole Timm of Eustis in 1956; to this union three children were born: Steve, Lisa and Scott. Carole preceded him in death in April 1986.

He served in the US Army from 1956 to 1958. After his discharge from the Army, he and his wife lived and taught school in Hildreth, Nebraska, from 1958-1963. He started working towards his Master's Degree in Educational Administration at Kearney State College, graduating in 1966. He became the Junior High Principal in Cozad, Nebraska, until 1976. After leaving the school system, he was engaged in a farming operation with a brother-in-law and also worked in the customer relations department of what was the O.A. Cooper Company, retiring in 1995. He married Roine Ballmer in 1994 and moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska. Since retiring, he helped part-time at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel. Norris was a member of the American Lutheran Church and sang in the men's choir. He was President of the Crest View Housing Board and was a Teammates Mentor. Norris enjoyed golfing, playing cards, going to his grandkids events and cheering on the Huskers.

He is survived by his loving wife, Roine Ecklund of Gothenburg; two sons, Steve (Linda) Ecklund of Grand Island, Nebraska and Scott (Robyn) Ecklund of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; daughter, Lisa (Matt) Wilson of Gothenburg; 13 grandchildren, Jennye, Jayme and Julia Ecklund, Ashley (Brent) Knust, Ben, Nolan and Dane Wilson, Chantel, Eden, Britt, Elise, Elijah and Gabriel Ecklund; two step-sons, Mark (Holly) Ballmer of Gothenburg, Alan (Jennifer) Ballmer of Gothenburg; four-step grandchildren, Luke and Brooke Ballmer, Alex and Alisha Ballmer; two great-grandchildren, Dominic Howells and Landyn Broadway; two sisters, Berneice (Dayne) Smith of Littleton, Colorado and Berneita (Jim) Mitchell of Bozeman, Montana; brother-in-law, Ron Cutler of Elsie, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Carole Ecklund; sister-in-law, MonaLee Cutler and niece, Julie Smiley.

Services were held at American Lutheran Church, March 12th, 2012, at 10 a.m., with Pastor Matthew Groenke and Lonna Grabenstein, PMA officiating. Interment followed in the Cozad Cemetery, Cozad, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the American Lutheran Church, 1512 Avenue G, Gothenburg, NE 69138; or Nebraska Kidney Association, 668 S. Blaine, Minden, NE 68959; or, Gothenburg Volunteer Fire Department 602 Tenth Street Gothenburg, NE 69138.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.

Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.