Lorraine Bernadette Connerton “Loni” was born and raised in New Port, Rhode Island, where she spent her childhood at the beach and local soda shops and diners. Norm spent his time in the Navy aboard the destroyer, USS Arcadia AD-23 serving as a Boiler technician. He was later stationed in New Port, Rhode Island, where he met Loni. Loni mused in her diary, she met a nice sailor at a local hang out, but he’s not the one for me and she had it underlined several times! Norm thought he had met the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!  Guess his charm won her over …

While they were dating, Loni would climb into Norm’s convertible and leave him a dime to call her when he got off work. When Norm got out of the Navy, they moved to Michigan to find work. They got married in January 1961. They raised two daughters Dawn and Donna in various towns in Michigan, but mostly in Flushing. Loni was a homemaker but occasionally worked part-time payroll jobs and worked for the 1980 Census. Norm and Loni both loved camping and spent a lot of time camping with their children. They belonged to the National Campers and Hikers Association for over 25 years.

After their children got married and moved out of state and started their own families. Norm retired from Buick as a tool and die maker after 25 years. They moved to Zephyrhills Florida. They began as snowbirds and eventually became year-round residents in the Royal Oaks II Trailer Park. At the Park, they were very active in planning dances, potluck meals, and many other activities.

Loni was very creative and took part and mastered many activities and art mediums, including acrylic and watercolor paintings, quilting, ceramics, and sewing. It seems everything she tried; she was able to master. She loved to share all her creations with family and friends.

Loni and Norm both loved to play cards. On their visits to Minnesota, Loni and Mark would spend the duration of the visits boasting about their skill and achievements beating Norm and Donna. Loni was a very outgoing and warm person. People would gravitate towards her. She took great pride and delight in her grandchildren and later the great-grandchildren; and would boast about their accomplishments to everyone. Watching Donna’s children become parents brought special pride to her.

Norm and Loni’s love was special. Donna watched Loni’s tender care intaking care of Norm; and Norm thought Loni was perfect and could do no wrong. In their 60 years of marriage, Norm carried a picture of Loni dating back from when they first dated. When asked why he never updated the picture, he would respond,” Why? She hasn’t changed a bit in my eyes.”

Norm was an accomplished wrestler in the Navy’s featherweight division. Norm’s commander recognized his wrestling ability; and when he heard another commander boasting about a wrestler, they would set up a match between the two wrestlers. A match that Norm won easily. Norm was compensated from Buick for his many ideas that made automobile production line work more efficient.

Loni died in 2021 and Norm in 2025. We celebrate their memories together at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Bauman-Cron Funeral Home in Virginia. A gathering time for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Inurnment with military honors will take place in the Minnesota Veteran’s Cemetery in Saginaw on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Family Services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please visit www.baumanfuneralhome.com .