A Funeral Mass for Norma Skjold, age 81, of O'Neill will be at 10:30 am on Monday, June 15, 2026 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill with Father Burkhalter and Father Reiser officiating.  Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at the church with a 10:00 am Catholic Daughter Rosary.  Norma passed away after a long illness on June 9, 2026 at her home.  Memorials may be directed to her family for future designation.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Norma Jane Widtfeldt was born on May 10, 1945 to Albert and Gustiva (Peterson) Widtfeldt in O'Neill, Nebraska.  Norma grew up on her family homestead at Rock Falls and attended O'Neill Public Schools.  She graduated, at 17 years old, with the class of 1962.  After high school, she attended Kansas State University for a time before attending Wayne State to earn her teaching certificate.  While at Wayne State, she began writing for the student newspaper.  It was her first taste of journalism, and she was hooked.

Norma moved to Camden, NJ to teach inner city youth, but shortly after she transitioned to journalism.  She was a very accomplished free-lance journalist and photographer.  Her writing and photos have been published in a multitude of newspapers, including both of the Philadelphia papers, earning her many awards.

Her good friend Gay was a flight instructor in NJ and taught her to fly.  She met Harald Skjold, who was also a pilot, at an airfield.  They began dating and later married at Edgewater Park, NJ on December 16, 1972.  The couple moved to her family's land to ranch in 1973, but Norma continued to have the itch to write and teach.  She eventually moved to Vermont where she attended and taught at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT with Harald flying between NE and VT to continue ranching.  While in Plainfield, Norma convinced the owner of the local advertising rag to change it to a daily paper so she could write and earn awards for it, which she did.  Harold passed away suddenly in a plane crash in 1985.  This traumatic event deteriorated Norma's health nearly overnight.  Having previously befriended the nearby Carmelite Nuns by writing a story on their fall festival, which peaked her interest in them and their way of life, they began to visit her home and helped her manage her life with this new illness.  They also helped her become a Catholic when she asked and then begin her journey to become a Carmelite.  Norma's mother was eventually able to convince her to move home to NE so they could look after each other.  She continued to write for area papers after returning to NE until her health prevented her from continuing.  She then focused devoutly on her vocation as a Carmelite until her death.

Norma was a Carmelite associated with Sioux City OCDS, a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, and Carmel Guild.

Norma enjoyed writing, photography, and painting.

Norma is survived by her long-time primary caregiver and friend, Barbara Bailey of O'Neill, NE; close friends Faith Kozisek, Joy Bahrij-Robinson, JoAnn Dugan, Cheri Frisch, Randy Hupp, and many others.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harald Skjold; and her brother, Jim Widtfeldt in 2023.