Orlene A. "Shorty" (Colbenson) North

Funeral Services for Orlene A. “Shorty” North, 80, Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 29, 2022 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Norfolk.  Reverend Cynthia Cone will officiate.  Interment will be in the Stanton Cemetery.  Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  The Funeral Service will be livestreamed on the funeral home’s website.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

She passed away Sunday, April 24, 2022 at her home in Norfolk. 

Orlene was born June 25, 1941 in Newcastle, NE to Leslie “Bucky” and Frieda (Nielsen) Colbenson. 

On May 2, 1964, Orlene married John Spence at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk. The couple was blessed with three children, Sherece, Dana, and Jason. On March 3, 2003, Orlene married James “Jim” North in Las Vegas, NV. 

She graduated from Norfolk High School in 1959. She held many positions over the years as a nurse’s aid, school secretary and helped John run the local Montgomery Wards store. She and Jim loved holiday decorating for the VFW.

Orlene enjoyed reading, crosswords and occasional trips to the casino. She had a knack for crafting and decorating. She loved her family fiercely. Her grandkids and great-grandchildren lit up her life. She didn’t have many conversations where she wasn’t bragging about one of her family members and was always on point to share pictures with anyone who would look! 

She is survived by her children Sherece Spence (Conrad Krajicek) of Omaha, Dana (Joel) Putters of Stanton, and Jason (Rachelle) Spence of Albion, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren—Ashley (David) McCart of Norfolk (children-Adalyn and Rylan), Jordan Spence (Jennifer Rindels) of Brookings, SD (children-Ivery and John), Jamie (Emily) Putters of Norfolk (children-Jace and Myla), Samantha (Logan) Schrunk of Ewing (child-Henry), Shelby Putters (Anthony Christ) of Kearney, Logan Spence and Johnna Spence of Albion, sister Nadene Ketter of Wynot, sister-in-law Charlotte Colbenson of Jenks, OK, brother-in-law Gene (Marilyn) Spence of Omaha, and many nieces and nephews. She also has special friends, long-distance friends and more special people who touched her life than can be counted.

Orlene was preceded in death by her parents, husbands John (1996) and James (2017), brother Curt Colbenson, and brother-in-law Maurice Ketter.

Her work here on Earth is done. She received a call. It was an offer that cannot be refused because it came from Our Father in Heaven. She accepted His appointment from which she will not be returning. Her assignment came with a big incentive/huge sign-on bonus: a reunion with family and friends she has not seen in a long, long time.

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