Irving "Bing" Soderlund

IRVING SODERLUND NORWAY- Irving “Bing” Soderlund, age 86, of Norway died Monday, December 12, 2011 at Dickinson Co. Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain, MI. He was born on May 26, 1925 in Norway, the son of the late Herman and Emma (Bjork) Soderlund. Bing graduated from Norway High School in 1943. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette and his Masters Degree from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Bing married Lenore Nyberg on June 12, 1948 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway. He served his country in the U.S. Air Corps during World War II. He flew 35 missions from England over France, Belgium and Germany as a ball turret gunner in a B-17. He became a teacher and basketball coach at Powers-Spalding Schools for 5 years. He came to Norway to teach and was assistant basketball coach for seven years, became high school principal and athletic director for nine years and then superintendent of the Norway-Vulcan School District for sixteen years, retiring in June 1986. Bing was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway, where he was active as a council member and Sunday School teacher. He was also a former member of the U.P. Athletic Committee, Michigan High School Athletic Council, Michigan SET/SEG Board, Dickinson County Hospital Board, Norway-Vulcan Kiwanis Club (charter president), Norway First National Bank Board, Norway-Vulcan Senior Center Board, Hall-DeWinter Post #145, American Legion in Norway. He was inducted into the U. P. Sports Hall of Fame, and the Northern Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Bing was the Friend of Norway in 2001. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lenore; son Chuck (Michelle) Soderlund of Darwin, MN; daughters Beth (Rich) Henrion of Norway and Nancy Zelman of Hartford, WI; grandchildren Kristin (Evan) Rice, Stacy (Chad) Harrison, Mark (Cali) Henrion, Megan, Steven, Melanie and Annika Soderlund, Erik and Jeremy Zelman; great grandchildren Gray and Reed Harrison, and several nieces and nephews. Bing was preceded in death by his brother, Raul Sutherland, sisters Eileen Eklund, Margaret Johnson, Edna Lidstrom and Amy Sutherland, and son-in-law, Aaron Zelman. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 14 from 4-7 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 15 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, at 1 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway, with Rev. James Danielson officiating. Interment will be held at the Norway Township Cemetery. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated for the Evangelical Covenant Church Memorial Fund or for a scholarship in his name to be established at Norway High School.

Irving "Bing" Soderlund

May 26, 1925 - December 12, 2011