Norma E. Raney

Norma Elaine (Erickson) Raney, 93, of Fargo, ND passed away peacefully on May 11th, 2025, at Sanford Hospice House in Fargo, ND.

Norma was born on February 15, 1932, in Erskine, MN. The daughter of Norman and Georgia (Benson) Erickson and youngest sister of Fern and LaVache. She grew up in Drayton, ND and graduated from Drayton Public School in 1950. She was active in music, drama, basketball and church activities.

In August of 1950, Norma married her high school sweetheart, Albert Raney. Together they attended the University of North Dakota. She and Albert returned to Drayton and started a family. Together, they had six children.

Norma had a deep love for community and activity. She was an avid golfer and curler, and a proud member of Homemakers, sewing clubs, and the American Legion Auxiliary. In 1975, she and Albert moved to Fargo, where they spent more than two decades owning and managing personnel agencies until their retirement in 1998.

Her faith was a steady, guiding presence throughout her life. Norma loved to express that faith through music, church, and prayer groups. She found joy in travel—especially trips to Montana and Itasca State Park—gardening, storytelling, ceramics, curling, reading, and most of all, time spent with her loved ones. Norma celebrated every birthday and holiday, and never passed up a chance to cheer on the NDSU Bison. In her final years at Sheyenne Crossing in West Fargo, Norma continued to brighten the days of others with her joy, music, and unwavering optimism. Her spirit remained full of light and love for the world around her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Georgia Erickson; husband of 55 years, Albert Raney; son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Audrey Raney; son-in-law, Dave Martinson; sisters and brothers-in-law LaVache “Lovey” and Al Stenvold, Fern and Elwood Olson; and sisters-in-law Dorothy Lubka, Mary Howe and Angie Vinge.

Norma is survived by her children Kent (Julie Raney) of Bismarck, ND; Kathy (Marv) Hauger of Grand Forks, ND; Craig (Jeanne) Raney of Billings, MT; Mary (Frank) Pierce of Moorhead, MN and Carol Raney of Fargo, ND; Brother-in-law Ed (Jackie) Raney of Lake Elmo, MN; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews, all of whom she remembered in her daily prayers.

Norma's spirit will be deeply missed, but the stories, memories, and moments she created will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 19th, 2025, at 2:00pm with a visitation one hour before the service at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Final resting place will be in Drayton Cemetery, Drayton, ND.

A livestream of the service will be available below.