Wes Norby Celebration of Life is November 8 at the KaDe Shack

Reinhard 'Wesley' Norby passed away peacefully on October 24, 2026 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ka-De Shack in Brooten, MN. Come for lunch and share your stories.

Reinhard ‘Wesley’ Norby was born in Glenwood, MN on February 15, 1947 to Gilbert and Geneva (Gulbranson) Norby. He was the youngest of 15 children and talked often of growing up on the farm north of Terrace. Even at a young age he was interested in mechanics, often disassembling toys and household items to see how they worked; much to the disapproval of his mother and siblings. One family story is when he was around the age of 10 or 12, switching the engine of the family car, while using a tree as a cherry picker; his dad was very impressed!

He dropped out of school in 9th grade to help on the family farm. In 1963, at the age of 16, he and a group of friends from the Brooten/Belgrade/New London area went to California to work. On their first day in California, they met a family, also from MN with the last name Hegna, they became lifelong friends. They worked odd jobs until 1965 when Wesley, Don Otteson and Terry Hegna enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He served as an engine-man on the USS Alacrity- a minesweeper- until he was honorably discharged in 1968. He also earned his GED while in the Navy. He was very proud of his service in the U.S. Navy and talked often of his experience and the friends he made.

Following discharge he moved back to Minneapolis and worked as a mechanic while also going to school for diesel mechanics. During this time he came to like heavy equipment and road construction. After getting his certification, he worked for MAC Trucks, Buffalo Bituminous, and Starry Construction (Now CCI Inc.) as a heavy equipment mechanic. In 1992, while working for Starry Construction, he was involved in a work accident that ultimately ended his career as a heavy equipment mechanic.

Around 1970, he married Carol Sanderson. They resided in the Twin Cities before moving to Paynesville. They were married for 10 years and then divorced. At which time, he moved back to the Brooten area working for K Farms as a mechanic. Around 1982, he met Ruth Binnebose, they dated for many years and bought their property north of Brooten in the Spring of 1994. After buying the property he converted the hay shed into his shop to work on many tractors, eventually downsizing to lawnmowers and smaller engines. This was his place. If you didn’t come to help work, you came for the good conversation and a trip to the beer fridge.

In June of 1995, Ruth and Wesley welcomed a daughter, Rachael. At 48, Wesley was thrilled to be a first-time dad, although terrified, mostly to handle a baby that small. He quickly grew into the role. As Rachael grew they became inseparable. He often joked, “She’s not spoiled”. One of her earliest memories is when they went out to Dave Crock’s on Lake Scandi on a summer morning. He bought her a fishing pole and all the things needed for a nice Dad-Daughter fishing day. They got to the water and Rachael jumped right in the water to swim, while Wesley fished.

One of Wesley’s proudest moments was becoming a grandfather to Odin. That little boy was his pride and joy. He loved fixing things up for Odin and hoped Odin would like it as much as he did.

In his younger days, Wesley loved fishing and camping trips, concerts, hunting, and of course, singing and playing guitar. People often said he had a voice like Waylon Jennings, and the attitude to boot!

Wesley passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 24, 2026 after a year of declining health.

He is survived by his ‘Better-Half’ Ruth Binnebose, Daughter Rachael (Aaron) Vowles of Albany, MN and Grandson Odin Vowles. Also survived by siblings Anna Johnsrud, Richard Norby, Margaret Norby, Trudy Hunt, Maggie Reutzel, and multiple nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 9 siblings, and numerous good friends.

The family would like to thank the Belgrade and Glenwood Nursing Homes, and Vivie Hospice for their patience and care this last year.