Norma Thorborg Bondeson

Lt. Col. Norma Thorborg Bondeson, USAF Retired, passed away from complications of Parkinson’s Disease on October 22, 2026 at the age of 85. Born June 21, 1941, she was the first child of the late Harold and Thorborg (Carlson) Bondeson of Woodland, Aroostook County, Maine.

Norma attended primary school in the one-room Pratt School in Woodland (one of 13 such schools in Woodland at the time), graduating as valedictorian. She then attended and graduated from Caribou High School. She continued her education at Upsala College and Clara Maass Hospital in East Orange and Newark, NJ earning high honors and her RN license, then proceeded in healthcare as an operating room nurse. Norma was dedicated to serving her country and enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving 4 years active duty, then continuing her career with the USAF Reserves in the 69th Air Medical Evacuation Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Her career as a USAF nurse included 4 years of active duty and took Norma to many places including, San Francisco, Germany, Massachusetts, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Norma served the USAF for 36 years and 22 days, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on her 60th birthday in 2001.

In spare moments during her career throughout the 1970’s-90’s, she and her brother, Carl, operated a mail order business – Golden Grain Farms – selling oat sheaves, a traditional Swedish decoration to feed birds at Christmastime and brighten the season. Norma attended trade shows throughout the country with her sister Rebecca selling “julkärve”, and remained, throughout her life, interested and proud of her Swedish roots and celebrated Swedish traditions especially during the Christmas season.

In retirement, Norma returned to Woodland and became active in several organizations. Community engagement was important to Norma, and she was a confirmed member of the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church in New Sweden where she served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a lifetime member of the Woodland Historical Society, Perkins-Plourde American Legion Post 136 in Stockholm, and the Woodland Ladies Extension. She was also a lifetime member of the Northern Maine Fair Association and won many ribbons throughout the years in the pie and whoopie pie competitions at the Fair.

Norma was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Thorborg (Carlson) Bondeson, siblings Peter Harold, Paul David, and Daniel Sven Bondeson, nephew Paul David (II) Bondeson, and brother-in-law, Darrell Dickinson. She is survived by her sister Rebecca Alida Dickinson, brother Carl Thomas Bondeson and wife Kristine, nephew, Sven Bondeson and wife Jessica, niece Wanda Bondeson, nephew David Dickinson and wife Angie, niece Sonja Gilbertsen and husband Mike, nephew Finn Bondeson, and good friends, Claire Hodgkins and David Baron. Funeral services are anticipated for spring 2027 with an announcement to be made at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Norma are welcomed to donate to the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church or the Woodland Historical Society.