Norman Edward Midthun
1924 ~ 2021 
Captain Norman Midthun, age 96, died July 24, 2021. Norm was born in Minneapolis on August 18, 1924 to Pauline Marie (Leknes) and Edward Maynard Midthun, his mother died following his brother's birth 18 months later. In his early childhood Norman lived in Bricelyn, MN; later moving back to northeast Minneapolis.
In 1933, during the Great Depression, at age twelve Norm started working in a meat market and soon learned the value of work and saving money. He was the youngest journeyman meat cutter in Minneapolis at age 15. Norm saved enough from his wages to purchase a prized Schwinn bike that he rode to school and work in all seasons; that bicycle now resides in the MN Historical Society. Norm’s grandparents on both sides were born in Norway and along with his high school Norwegian teacher, Ben Eggen, he was informed about what was happening in Norway during the initial stages of WWII.
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Clinton C. Viebrock
1938 ~ 2021
Captain Clinton C. "Clint" Viebrock, born 12/30/1938, died August 31, 2021 of complications of an arduous two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Clint was born in Waterville, Washington. He is survived by his wife Susan and daughters Kimm (Michael) Nesteroff and their children Mark and Matthew, and Kjerstin (Greg Klein) and their children Dylan and Anna. Clint is also survived by his youngest brother Sid Viebrock and sister Sybil Marsh. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry C and Martha C. Viebrock and his brother Denny Viebrock.
Clint was raised on the family farm, doing morning chores before driving 10 miles to high school and returning in the afternoon to more chores. He was the first person in his family to go to college, and attended University of Washington from 1956, graduating in the class of 1960 as a Marine ROTC graduate.
Clint came to the University of Washington with a ukulele and by his sophomore year he was playing in a quartet in his fraternity (Phi Psi) that was equally popular on campus with the Brothers Four that started at the same time at the UW. He saved his money and bought his first guitar, a four string Gibson and he never quit playing and singing the rest of his life.
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Wallace ‘Wally’ Weber
1923 ~ 2021
Captain Wallace ‘Wally’ Weber, age 97, passed away Sunday June 6th after a brief illness. A lifetime resident of Hastings, MN, Wally was born in Marshall MN on August 19, 1923, to Bill and Rose Weber. Wally’s father Bill Weber started his working years as a harness maker, but when market demand disappeared, he supported his family doing shoe repair. There were five children in the Weber family, two boys and three girls, and Wally was the oldest.
Wally graduated from Hastings High School in 1941 and spent a brief time in California working for Douglas Aircraft. He returned to Minnesota started his lengthy career with Northwest Airlines on August 05, 1942. In response to a call to military duty, Wally enlisted in the Navy in late 1942. Thus begins a most unusual couple pairing. Wally was trained by the Navy in aircraft metalsmith work. His first post training duty station was in Florida and there Wally met his future wife Claire, who was also an USN aircraft metalsmith specialist.
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Elwood ‘Woody’ Jay Herman
1921 ~ 2021
Captain Elwood ‘Woody’ Jay Herman, age 100, died August 10, 2021 at home in New Auburn, WI. Woody was born in Montrose, MN on 2/18/1921 to Alta Herman (Chafee) and Jay Herman. He was their only child.
Woody was raised in Minneapolis, MN and attended Roosevelt High School where he played football. He worked a paper route earning funds to buy a car and pay for flying lessons during the very difficult ‘Depression’ years. Together with his father, Woody, at only 16 years old, purchased a Piper J-3 Cub. With this airplane he frequently barnstormed at county fairs, giving rides for .05 per person to help pay for the plane. He acquired an instructor rating in his late teens to become one of the youngest instructors in the US at that time. Prior to WWII Woody instructed Army Air Corp students using the PT-19 from southern Texas airbases.
He married Geraldine Danielson in 1942, the same year he was hired by NWA on Dec. 24th. This began a distinguished 39-year career with NWA.
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Wayne J. Anderson
1940 ~ 2021
Captain Wayne Joseph Anderson, age 81, of Rollins, Montana took his last flight on July 25, 2021, after a short struggle with pancreatic cancer. Born on June 25, 1940, to Reverend Oscar and Nina Olson Anderson in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Wayne was the second oldest of four children – David Anderson (who passed in 2000), Lois and Roselyn. Wayne’s mother died during childbirth. His father married Ing Nesheim when he was two years old.
True to his Viking heritage, Wayne was an avid adventurer and voyager. In the fall of 1958, after graduating from Janesville (WI) Senior High School, Wayne enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. During his St. Olaf tenure, he opted to leave college for a year to explore and guide in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area along the Minnesota/Canadian border. Upon returning to St. Olaf College, Wayne participated in Air Force ROTC, setting his sights on becoming an Air Force pilot.
As a student Wayne was also known to excel in college wrestling and tennis. Following graduation, he married fellow student Anne Esse whom he met at St. Olaf. In time Wayne and Anne had two sons, Sig and Eric.
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Ronald W. Murdock
1933 ~ 2021
Captain Ron Murdock, age 87, died April 27, 2021 of esophageal cancer. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to James and Hazel Murdock. Ron had three brothers. His parents struggled with layoffs and scarce employment during the Great Depression. Ron’s father ended up supporting the family as a bus driver. One can safely describe Ron as a child of the depression.
From his early youth Ron exhibited qualities of modesty, shyness, and great intellect. A top student and class officer in his high school class. Ron often described himself as an ‘early nerd.’ After high school Ron studied at the Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio for two years prior to entering the USN Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program. This major step was no doubt provoked in part by Ron’s older brother James, who had opted for the USAF Aviation Cadet program and thereafter served as a USAF pilot.
Assigned to NAVCAD class 1-54 at NAS Pensacola, Ron endured the military training and excelled at flying. Most of his flight training was at/near Pensacola with advanced training at Beeville, Texas. While a cadet Ron sang in the Naval Aviation Cadet Choir. He was honored to have performed with the Cadet Choir on the famed Ed Sullivan television show along with Tony Bennett. Ron acquired his wings of Gold and was commissioned into the USMC in May of 1955 and thereafter transferred to MCAS Cherry Point, NC.
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