Coleen R. Norris, 60

Coleen Rae Norris, 60, died on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at her residence in rural Thief River Falls, MN, surrounded by family.

Her Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, July 1, 2022, with Pastor Birgitte Simpson officiating, at the Carp Hall, 6023 County Rd 1 SW, Baudette, MN.

The visitation in honor of Colleen will be held from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM on Friday, July 1, 2022 at the Carp Hall in Baudette.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society or offer a random act of kindness to others.
Coleen Rae (Hancock) Norris was born on January 3, 1961 to Chub and Marj Hancock in Baudette, Minnesota. Coleen idolized her father and revered her mother. She relished her memories with her siblings, cousins, and friends as they played on the farm. She developed a strong work ethic from a young age as she marched in the footsteps of her dad. She graduated from Lake of the Woods High School in 1979 and held on to lifelong friendships from childhood.

After graduating high school, she followed her heart to Anchorage, Alaska where she met her soulmate, Wes Norris. In 1982, the couple welcomed their first child, Travis James. Five years later, the family celebrated the addition of their second child, Katrina Rae.

Coleen brought up her family in the same community she was raised. She spent many years working as a dietary aid at Lakewood Care Center. She loved the residents and her colleagues dearly. She enjoyed volunteering in her community and cheering her children on with their activities.

Coleen and Wes had an adventurous spirit and moved to Rangely, Colorado after their youngest left the nest. While in Colorado, she developed deep friendships with kindred spirits. She poured her heart into her work at Eagle Crest Assisted Living. After ten years in Colorado, the couple moved to Crosby, North Dakota before settling down in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to be closer to family.

She could not be more loving of her children’s spouses, Casey and Erik. She was a very proud mother and even prouder grandma to her four beloved grandsons. She formed special relationship with her siblings in adulthood. Her nieces and nephews affectionately knew her as “Auntie Coco.” Nothing made her smile bigger than when she shared stories of her grandchildren.

She had a green thumb and could grow ten-pound tomatoes, then make the best salsa you’d ever tasted. Coleen had a way of developing strong bonds with people of all ages, cultivating long lasting friendships. She will be remembered for her roaring laugh, generous spirit, vibrant personality, and compassionate heart. Her laughter was truly contagious, but she wanted her kindness to be just as contagious. She would have given the shirt off her back to a stranger in need. She was truly an angel on earth and will be dearly missed.
Coleen’s health began to decline but you’d never know it because she never wanted others to worry about her. Her mobility slowed but her love flowed. She put others before herself right up until the end. She had an aggressive form of cancer that took her within weeks of her diagnosis. She died peacefully at home surrounded by those that loved her deeply. Her son was holding her hand as she took her last breath on earth.

Coleen is preceded in death by her beloved father Chub Hancock; niece Trudy Mollberg; great niece Baleigh Mollberg; her grandparents Dorothy Overland, Leroy and Velma Epley.

She is survived by husband Wes Norris, son Travis (Casey) Norris, daughter Katrina (Erik) Tharalson, grandson’s Tucker, Chase, and Tegan Norris, and Henrik Tharalson, mother Marj Hancock, siblings Nadine (Darwin) Hanson, Linda (Stan) Babnik, Lee (Yvonne) Hancock, Sandra Rose, and Terri (Jeff) Matthis, many nieces/nephews, extended family, and friends.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.­