Norma Mckanna

Norma “Nonnie” McKanna

Norma “Nonnie” McKanna, 87, McGregor, formerly of Hibbing, died Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Riverwood Healthcare in Aitkin.          She was born in Hibbing to Nicholas and Mary (Badovinac) Kovich, on August 20, 1929. Norma was a 1947 graduate of Hibbing High School, attended Hibbing Community College and participated in various independent accredited correspondence studies. She was a retired employee of the University Medical Center-Mesabi and the former Hibbing General Hospital system, where she worked as the Patient Accounts Manager. She was an active community member and political activist. Norma was actively involved with the Business and Professional Women (BPW) organization on a local and regional level for many years. She was the first woman appointed to the Hibbing Fire Civil Service Commission and the first woman appointed to the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission.  During Governor Rudy Perpich’s administration, she served as his appointee the First Citizens Advisory Board of the Iron Range Interpretative Board (Ironworld); the original governance board of the Minnesota State Vocational Education system, serving as the state chairperson in 1987; followed by an appointment to the Minnesota State Public Utilities Commission.

She is survived by her son, Richard (Connie) McKanna, McGregor, MN, granddaughters; Kelsey McKanna, McGregor, Nicole (Paige) Kahler, St. Cloud, and Katie (Zac) Brown, Mpls., great-grandchildren, Eiley and Harrison Kahler. She was preceded in death by her husband, William, son Patrick, her parents, and four siblings.

Funeral services will be held at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Hibbing, on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 2:30 pm. There will be no visitation. The Rev. Fr. Radomir Plavsic will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing.