Community activist.
Born on 29 October 1926 to Icelandic parents, Bergthora Ragnheidur “Heida” Sigurdson (1904-1982) and Johannes August Magnusson Johnson (1894-1986), she grew up on the family farm at Oakview and attended Darwin School. In her youth, she excelled at track-and-field and softball, and maintained a lifelong connection to her roots in that community, as well as the strong work ethic she learned on the farm. After finishing her schooling, she worked for a time as an Executive and Legal Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Immigration in Winnipeg.
On 24 May 1950, she married Gestur Kristjansson (1922-2006), and they went on to have two children. After her husband’s graduation from medical school, they spent time in Ellendale, North Dakota before returning to Winnipeg. Here she became very active in the community, serving as President of the Icelandic Canadian Frón (1985); Board Member of the Scandinavian Cultural Centre (1982-1985); Cultural Chairperson of the Icelandic National League; President of the Manitoba Doctors' Wives Association; President of the the St. Charles Country Club (ladies section); representative of the Canadian Ladies Golf Association; and Secretary of the Winnipeg Winter Club Ladies Curling.
An accomplished cook, she excelled at preparing traditional Icelandic dishes, such as ponnukokur, vinerterta, and skyr. She curled at the Winnipeg Winter Club and golfed at the St. Charles Country Club. She enjoyed her time at the family cottage her husband built in 1962 at Clearwater Bay, Lake of the Woods, Ontario, and in later years spent many winters at Sun City Centre, Florida. The couple travelled extensively, including a trip to Iceland.
She died at Winnipeg on 27 May 2012 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.
Obituary [Gestur Kristjansson], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 2006.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 2 June 2012.
“Norma Thorun Johnson,” Johnson Family Tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 28 May 2026
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