News

Glinz turns 90 years old

By Scott Wagar

01/08/2013

When one turns 90 years old life is pretty sweet, especially if you are Norman Glinz, because when he reached 90 this past weekend, he received a birthday party which included numerous guests, lots of love and laughter, and music by his granddaughter, Taylor Glinz.

Glinz was born on Jan. 9, 1923 to James and Elizabeth Glinz on a farm near Russell. He was raised in the Russell area and graduated from Russell High School in 1941.

After graduating from high school he became part of the family’s agricultural business specializing in growing wheat and barley and raising hogs.

During his first year as a farmer and livestock producer, Glinz was in a farm accident where he accidentally caught his hand in a feed grinder, placing him in a hospital for six weeks.

During that time, World War II had broke out, but the war department refused to take Glinz because of his injured hand. With being left out of the service, Glinz continued to work on the farm, which he made into a lifetime profession.

Glinz eventually ended up in the Bottineau area and he married Twilla Nass of Cando, who was living in Bottineau, where she owned and operated a salon in downtown Bottineau.

Norman and Twilla had two children, Brigitte and Mark, who today are part of the family farming business.

Outside of farming, Glinz is involved in owning a local business, he is a pilot and has a passion for horses and has played a major part in owning, training and racing trotters and pacers in both the United States and Canada.

Norman is also a strong community supporter in financial donations to better the Bottineau community. He has assisted in donations to Dakota College at Bottineau, Bottineau County Museum, and Bottineau High School by purchasing and setting up trophy cases in the school.  

With turning 90, Glinz feels that the time has gone by quickly.

“I’m only 90 years old, it has gone by way too fast. It’s just like a flash to me,” Glinz said. “And, I still want to do some more. I like to work, do different things and help the farmers save the soil, that’s what I want to do.”

Glinz added that he enjoyed his birthday party.

“You only get to have a party once or twice,” he said. “If I get to 100 I might have it (a party) again.”

For now, Glinz is living his life the way he has always lived his life, to the fullest.