Norman R. Vine, LTC, USAF retired, took his final flight May 25, 2018, while wintering in Yuma, Arizona. Norm, the youngest of three boys, was born to Ole Jude and Bernen (Bernie) Stalhiem Vine on July 5, 1936. As a child, he resided on the family farm and attende3d Southview School through the eighth grade, then attended high school in Wolf Point, graduating in 1953.
While attending MSU Bozeman, Norm took flying lessons. Upon graduating from college, he worked a short time at Boeing before joining the Air Force in 1958.
He married Kay Woods in 1958 and they had three children. In 1984, he married Pat Frood and added another daughter to his family.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1980, Norm flew a weather research T-28 airplane for the South Dakota School in Mines and Technology where he gathered intel about thunderstorms by flying through them. He earned the nickname “Stormin’ Norman” from his pilot buddies, as most pilots avoid stroms.
In 1989, Norm moved back to eastern Montana, where he famed the land his maternal grandparents homesteaded. At the time of his death, he was enjoying retirement with his wife in sunny Arizona.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents and only son, Howard.
He is survived by his two brothers, Elvin and Delbert; his wife, Pat; daughters, Kathy (Brandon) Lund of Billings, Kelly (Marvin) Crusch of Joliet and Joelie (Andy) of Spokane Vally, Washington; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, with the first great-great-grandchild on the way.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, Montana.
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