William Truman Norris

William Truman Norris

March 26, 1937 - Thursday, December 4, 2014

William Truman Norris, “Waabishkigwan” (White Feather)

age 77, of Coon Rapids, passed away peacefully at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital Palliative Care Unit on December 4, 2014. He was a United States Army veteran (Korea), a life member of the National Disabled American Veterans and life member of the VFW Post 9625. He was an enrolled member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama. He was an honorary member of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association and also a former board member of the American Indian OIC. He was employed at the Symon Clamp Company in Illinois and was a Union Steward for 15 years. Truman was known for his fine cooking skills and everyone enjoyed the meals he cooked. He enjoyed singing, dancing and whistling while cooking and shared his family recipes with his children and grandchildren. He also loved to garden, do canning (salsa, jam, etc.), collect antiques (tools, knives, pocket watches and coins) and go to flea markets. He was a very generous and kind person with a great sense of humor who would humbly welcome anyone that came or stayed at his home and would always offer a helping hand. He took great pride in being a loving father to his family. He is survived by loving wife Alberta (57 years); 4 daughters Linda (Harlen), Karen (Tom), Sharon (Oscar), Valerie (Donovan); 2 sons Charlie and Arnie; 2 stepsons Sam Houston and Dana Arcoren; 7 grandchildren Rose, Alanna, Tom, Andrew, Keith, Lucy and Shaleena (and kids); 4 great grandchildren Elizabeth, Shyne, Keith Jr. and Kenton. 7 nephews Bobby & Buster Lyle, Joseph & Charles Sandusky, Terrel & Brian Carlisle; special nephew Clarence “Cease” Spears; 2 nieces Dianne Jeffers; special niece Mary Fayant; several great nephew and nieces; special cousin Irene Davenport.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Lexi Norris; 2 brothers Jim and Ralph Norris; 3 sisters Norma Jean Sandusky, Emma Faye Lyle, Lucy Carlisle; grandson Robert Lee Barrett. Pall bearers: Keith Bedeau Sr, Tom Barrett Sr, Tom Barrett Jr, Oscar Arredondo, Mike Thunder, and Andrew Bongo. Honorary Pall bearers: Clarence “Cease” Spears, Merv LaRose, Dana Arcoren, Donovan Williams MD, Arnie Wood, Jane Fayant, Larry Leventhal, Ron Peterson, Ed Sharkey, Don Cook, Harlan Beaulieu and Darrel Waybenais. Wake on Tuesday December 9, 2014 at 5PM. Services will be on Wednesday December 10, 2014 at 11 AM. Both are being held at: Indian Ministries Office, 3045 Park Avenue, South

Minneapolis, MN. Burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 12:45 PM on Wednesday December 10, 2014.