Norma Fulton

Norma Elizabeth Fulton, 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep just after midnight on October 9, 2025, at her home in Reno, Nevada. Norma was born in New York, New York, on March 1, 1933, the daughter of German immigrants Karl and Liesel Oberdorf, who had left their native country amid the growing unrest in Europe to build a safer life in America. Raised alongside her older sister in Ridgewood, Queens, and later Throggs Neck, Bronx, she grew up with a deep appreciation for her German heritage and her American homeland, becoming fluent in both German and English. At Walton High School, Norma excelled in swimming and water ballet, igniting a passion for swimming that would stay with her throughout her life. After graduating in 1951, she began a nearly two-decade career with New York Telephone Company. In 1968, she married the love of her life, Edward Avard Fulton. The couple moved to Minnetonka, Minnesota, where, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, they raised their two children in a home built on love and faith. They formed a close-knit circle of neighborhood friends who became like extended family, sharing the joys and challenges of parenthood and the laughter of daily life. The friendships and traditions forged there held a special place in her heart, a feeling she would cherish for the rest of her life. Norma found a special joy in expressing her love for family and friends through her cooking. This culminated in her proudest culinary achievement: a self-published cookbook titled "Try It, You'll Like It!", a treasured collection of her family's favorite recipes, perfected over 70 years in the kitchen. She dedicated two years to the project, creating a lasting legacy for her family. The Fultons filled their life with cherished memories of boating, skiing, and extensive travels. Norma gave generously to her community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and for over twenty years was a devoted member of the All Saints Lutheran Church Choir. For her, these years in Minnesota represented the fulfillment of the American Dream, and she often reflected that this was the happiest time of her life. In 2010, Norma and Edward relocated to Sparks, Nevada, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Norma was a faithful member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Reno. Her steadfast love for her family was her greatest gift, and her warmth, grace, and gentle spirit will be profoundly missed. She is reunited in death with her beloved husband Edward, who passed away on October 24, 2023. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Liesel Oberdorf; her sister, Doris Swisher; her first husband, Rudolf Gemoll; and her granddaughter, Alexandra Cecilia Fulton. She is survived by her son, Edward Karl Fulton; her daughter, Jennifer Elisabeth Granstrom, son-in-law, Paul Wesley Granstrom; and her cherished grandchildren, Alison Elisabeth Granstrom, Matthew Wesley Granstrom, and Ethan Edward Granstrom. A service celebrating Norma's life will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed by interment at the family burial plot. Afterward, guests are invited to a reception at the Lakewood Cemetery Welcome Center. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in Norma's name to Lutheran Social Services of Nevada at www.lssnv.org.

Tributes

Norma Fulton

March 1, 1933 - October 9, 2025

Tributes

Norma Fulton

March 1, 1933 - October 9, 2025

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