Norman Armstrong

Norman "Punch" Armstrong, of Pequot Lakes and Lucy the monkey have retired for good; Norm passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Regency Hospital in Golden Valley, following a motorcycle accident on November 6. The memorial service for Norm will be Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 2 PM, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home on Friday, January 6 from 5-8:00 PM and from 1-2:00 PM on Saturday.

Norman was born June 4, 1943 in Muskegan, Michigan, to Lester and Grace (Cline) Armstrong. He grew up in northern Minnesota, enjoying fishing and riding motorcycles in the Pine River-Backus-Pequot Lakes area. A jack of many trades, Norman had a talent for anything mechanical. He was a heavy equipment operator and worked at the Freeway Landfill in Burnsville. Norman moved to Backus in 1979. On December 15, Norm would have had thirty years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, where he helped many people find their way to sobriety. Norm, Lucy the monkey, and Norm's Gold Wing motorcycle were a Brainerd icon, riding in the Fourth of July parade and with the Patriot Guard.

Left to remember Norman are his children, Dawn Barthman, of Brainerd, Skipper Armstrong, of St. Paul, Cindy Armstrong, of St. Paul, Jeremy Armstrong, of Pequot Lakes, Amanda Armstrong, of Fifty Lakes, and Jacob Armstrong, of Bloomington; 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; his mother, Grace Armstrong, of Backus; and two siblings, John Armstrong, of Pine River, and Edna Wolf, of Backus. Preceding him in death were his father, Lester Norman Armstrong; and his son-in-law, Tim Barthman.

Visitation Friday, 1/6, from 5-8 PM and one hour before service on Saturday, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes.