Norman Nils McConnell was born May 6, 1933 to Robert "Earl" and Clara (Anderson) McConnell. He was their fourth child and was given his Swedish Grandfather's name for a middle name. The McConnell family homestead is between Bridgeport and Dalton and the McConnell children attended a one-room school about a mile away. For high school they boarded with families in Bridgeport. Norman graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1951. He then went to Scottsbluff Junior college for 2 years. He went from Scottsbluff to Fort Collins CO to attend Colorado A&M. Unable to decide on a major he joined the army after his first year there.
Norman served in the Army 2 years. He was stationed in Colorado, Texas and Georgia and liked seeing more of the USA and experiencing different cultures. He was on the Fort Benning pistol team and was encouraged to re-up at the end of his 2 years but he decided to return to the farm. "You can take the boy off the farm but you can't take the farm out of the boy." Wherever he lived, Norman always had something growing in little pots or bountiful plots.
Norman was one of the better bowlers in Bridgeport. He delighted in helping beginning or struggling bowlers find the techniques that improved their scores. In the fall of 1961 he noticed a young teacher on the Dalton women's team. She needed help! Her bowling didn't improve that much but they had fun practicing and in the fall of 1962 Norman McConnell and Helen Applegarth were married in the Dalton Presbyterian Church.
Norman worked for his brother, his cousin and helped neighboring farmers. He was a hydrographer for Nebraska Department of Water Resources. (He measured rivers, creeks and canals recording the measurements.) He and Helen owned and operated Trail Lanes Bowling in Bridgeport. They have lived in Morrill County, Dawson County, Dawes County, Box Butte County and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Norman is survived by his wife Helen and his children Nils (Tammy) McConnell, Jody (Jim) Distler, Rick JoonHo (Sophie), and Linda Hotchkiss, his older sister Clara May (Jerry) Groves, grandchildren Conner, Eryn, Monty McConnell; Megan, Anthony, Erik Distler; Zachary, Katelyn McConnell; Benjamin, Alexandra, Ethan Hotchkiss and bonus grandchildren Casey and Christian Taylor. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren and numerous members of Helen's family.
Preceding him in death were his parents and all his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins; 2 sisters Anna Lou McConnell and Kathryn (Morris) Churchill; his brother Rodney (Lauretta); his half-brother R.S. (Irene); 2 infant sons Nils Norman and Thomas HwiYoon; and granddaughter Amber McConnell.
Memorial services will be Tuesday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Alliance with Pastor Sue Spencer officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.