Mengis Funeral Home

Walter was born April 18, 1923 in Preble Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota to Joseph and Stella (Erickson) Norby. He attended the Tawney School.  In 1943 he married Phyllis Rye in Prosper, Minnesota.  They farmed in Preble Township and he also did logging and operated a sawmill.  He later worked for Preble Township and Fillmore County in the road maintenance departments.

Walter and Phyllis opened and established the Big Woods Campground in the late 1980’s.  They hosted trail rides and hog roasts for number of years on Labor Day weekend. He especially enjoyed visiting, reminiscing, and entertaining people with all of his stories and history of the area.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting for arrowheads, his horses and mules, an occasional trip to the casino and just spending time with his family.  He was a member of the Scheie Lutheran Church and a former member of the Rawhide Ropers and the Circle A Saddle Club

Walter passed away unexpectedly Thursday, August 12, 2010 at the Gundersen Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin at the age of 87.   

Walter is survived by his wife Phyllis of Canton; four children Anna (Larry) Soiney, Thomas (Sheila), and Peter (Barb) all of Canton, and Karen (Bob Hilsman) Norby of New Hampton, Iowa; twelve grandchildren Dan Norby, Dave (Amy) Norby, Lori (Troy) Huhe, Todd (Amy) Soiney, Kris (Mike) Banse, Troy (Trishia) Soiney, Angie (Jeff) Bennett, Holly (Bill) Cox, Melissa (Gary) Tlusty, Cheryl (Jess) Kuennen, Jason (Sunshine) Norby, and Jessi Norby; and twenty-five great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a son Vernie, daughter-in-law Janice; granddaughter Riley; two brothers Sanford and Joseph Jr.; and a sister Opal.