NORMAN R. NORQUIST, DMD
orman was born near Tillamook, Oregon, the youngest of three sons, to Nels and Lilly (Johnson) Norquist. The family moved to the Hillsview area when Norman was young. He spent his childhood there, just south of Gresham.
Norman met his future wife, Dorothy May Biornstad (Dottie) during their preschool years at Hillsview Covenant Church’s Sunday School. He attended school in Hillsview and Gresham, and graduated from Gresham High School.
In WWII, Staff Sgt. Norman Norquist served in the Army Air Corps as a tail-gunner on a B-17, based in England. He flew in sorties over Paris, Berlin, Dresden, and Munich, as well as other cities. After the war, he was placed on a ship that sailed to New York out of LeHavre, France. He came home on train, via Fort Lewis, WA.
He married his childhood sweetheart on January 1, 1947. They were married for 69 years, until Dottie's death.
Norm received his DMD from the University of Oregon Dental School. His dental practice was initially located on Powell Blvd. near downtown Gresham, (in the small Malcolm's Flowers building) near Roberts Ave. He later moved his office east, to 1221 E. Powell (next to Liberty Ave.) where it remained until his retirement in 1987.
Norman was a member of the Gresham High School Board for over nine years, and served as Chairman of the Board as well. He was also involved in the grade school PTA.
For over 19 years Dr. Norquist served as worship leader and choir director at Powell Valley Mission Covenant Church, east of Gresham. He sang and led music as well as served on the church board. In 1977 Good Shepherd Community Church was born out of a Bible study that met in Norm and Dottie's home.
