A Builder of Community: Norman Kettner

May 22, 1928 to December 29, 2014

Norm Kettner was born in Wentworth, South Dakota and spent most of his youth in Buckley, Illinois.  When he was considering college (and how he would afford it), he unexpectedly received a full scholarship for Valparaiso University from the Lutheran Laymen’s League, as the representative from west of the Mississippi River.  He remained ever grateful for this support, and attempted to pass it on many-fold during his lifetime.

Norm married Joanne Dehmlow of Algonquin, Illinois in 1951, who became the intended of his heart from their initial meeting.  They moved to Salt Lake City thereafter, where they would remain for the rest of their days.  Norm received a law degree from the University of Utah.  He then served as a clerk for the Utah Supreme Court, becoming assistant Salt Lake City Attorney not too long after.  He came to know where all the bodies were buried.

In 1965, Norman went to work for Union Pacific Railroad, where he spent a proud 30-year career representing the railroad’s interests from coast to coast.

Since Norm belonged to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, he was involved with the seminary of that church, Concordia, in St. Louis, and became a good friend of young president John Tietjen.  When the seminary split in 1974, Norm followed the new Christ Seminary in Exile (Seminex) and became a member of its advisory board.  When Seminex disbanded in 1982, his allegiance followed the four professors who came to PLTS, and so did his and Joanne’s generous donations.  In the course of time, they designated PLTS among the other institutions they wanted to remember in their will.  Joanne and Norm had a practice to give away half of their adjusted income every year.  They also established an endowed scholarship fund at the seminary.

Norm was an inveterate joke teller, a competitive bowler, a spinner of yarns (mostly true), and a faithful church member. He most recently attended Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in SLC, where PLTS alum David Nichols is currently pastor.  He was preceded in death by Joanne in 2010.

In his memoirs, Norm wrote, “God’s call is far more extensive than loyalty to a congregation, to a church body, or even to friends and family.  It involved living in the present belief that you are doing God’s work where you are, but are receptive to the idea that where you are may change, physically, intellectually, emotionally, in understanding your faith, and in the faith itself.”

Well done, good and faithful servants, Norman and Joanne.