Norma Alice Heikkila

Norma Heikkila of Babbitt passed away on January 6, 2026.  She was born October 11, 1931 to Alice and William Thompson.  She went to school at Waasa in Embarrass and also Ely Memorial High School.

She married Raymond Nori of Palo in 1950 and together they had 6 children.  They divorced in 1963.

In July of 1966, she married John W Heikkila of Babbitt and they had two boys.

She loved hard work.  She spent her time gardening, chopping wood, crocheting/knitting, cooking and baking.  Her specialties were her Finnish "squeaky cheese", known in Finland as Leipajuusto (bread cheese), homemade bread, and her Finnish biscuit.  She would always say after a big meal, "You should have pie and ice cream."  In addition to being a homemaker, she worked at various places and retired from the Ely Hospital after 15 years.

She is survived by her children, Gayle Carlson, Gary Nori, Richard (Inga) Nori, Thomas Nori, John (Karen) Heikkila, and Dave (Rachel) Heikkila and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Heikkila, mother and father, Alisa and William, brothers Kenneth and Larry Thompson, sons Curtis and Randall Nori, and grandchild, Jace Heikkila.

Service will be held at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Babbitt, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, January 24th.  Family visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

A family burial will be held at a later date.

Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.

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