Heaven welcomed one beautiful, intelligent, classy lady when Nora Belle (Whitman) Sannes quietly passed on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at age 97. Her Celebration of Life will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND.
Nora was born in 1927 in rural Robinson, ND to Jay P. and Lena Whitman and was raised on a small farm. She spent a happy childhood playing with three sisters, helping with farm chores and often hiding away to read a book.
Nora’s formal education began in a one-room country school located half a mile from the farm. Nora walked to school along a prairie trail that bordered a fenced pasture and had fond memories of being serenaded by meadowlarks
“sitting on every fence post”. High school was in the nearby town of Robinson and Nora graduated as valedictorian in 1943 at age 16.
After attending Valley City State Teacher’s College, Nora began her career as an elementary school teacher and spent the next seven years teaching in the small North Dakota towns of Kiev, Drake and Robinson. The Robinson School Superintendent saw something special in Nora and played matchmaker for his younger brother, Leonard Emil Sannes, a farmer living in Barnes County, ND. Wedding bells rang for Nora and Leonard on September 1, 1951.
Nora’s career as a farmer’s wife brought many changes including having to learn to cook more than chocolate chip cookies, learning to run a combine and raising three children, Gerry, Colleen and Corinne. Nora’s years as a farmer’s wife were filled with raising beautiful flowers, leading the Grand Prairie Township Livewires
4-H Club, getting involved in the township’s Homemaker’s Club, and touring the state as a speaker for the Christian Women’s Club.
Nora was passionate about her Christian faith and found a spiritual home in the United Methodist Church. She lived its core belief that being a Christian obligated her to love all others because God first loved her. While on the farm, Nora was active in Salem United Methodist Church in rural Valley City.
Nora and Leonard retired from farming and moved to Fargo in 1984. Nora did not understand how a city housewife could stay busy, so she gladly accepted a job offer from their realtor. She enjoyed many things about her new career, but especially the fact that she got to dress up for work.
Nora and Leonard shared 24 busy years in Fargo. They joined First United Methodist Church and Nora sang in the choir, joined a Circle and served on several committees. Her favorite activity, however, was playing an integral role in raising her first granddaughter, Chrissy. Chrissy was key to Nora staying forever young.
In 2007, at age 80, Nora retired from Advantage Realty with a closet full of suits and high heels. One year later, Nora was widowed. She spent her final decades being “Super Nana” to the four children of her granddaughter, Chrissy Koland. William Leonard Finn, Emilia Belle Finn, James Patrick Koland, and Adelaide Nora Koland, all from Fargo-Moorhead, benefitted from her love and wisdom. Nora also fulfilled her long-deferred dream of traveling, enjoying trips to both coasts, several visits to see her daughter in Las Vegas and 4 memorable family trips to Kauai.
Her parents, beloved husband, three sisters and seven nieces and nephews preceded her in death. Left to celebrate her life are her three children, Gerry Sannes, Fargo; Colleen (TJ) Rice, Las Vegas, NV; Corinne Durensky, Barnesville, MN; granddaughter Chrissy (Jeremy) Koland, Fargo; grandson Ian (Jacklyn) Anderson, Fargo; step-grandson Darrin Anderson, West Fargo; eight great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel of Valley City. The family suggests that memorials be given to First United Methodist Church of Fargo.