Norvan Kent Allen

Norvan Kent Allen, 82, of Albuquerque, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, entered into the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, after a multi-year struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Norvan was born on March 8, 1936 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Ivan and Norma (Clark) Allen.   He grew up in Rapid City, spending many summers on his grandparents’ ranch in nearby Hot Springs, and graduated with honors from Rapid City High School.  He served with the 319th USASA Battalion, studying Russian and German at the US Army Language School in Monterey, California and serving as voice interpreter/radio intercept operator stationed on what was then the border between East and West Germany monitoring East German communications.

Norvan earned a degree in chemistry from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where he was a member of the National Society of Scabbard and Blade.  He joined the Food and Drug Administration beginning a career that would take him and his family around the country.  He worked at offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  When the opportunity to join the newly established Consumer Product Safety Commission was presented to him, he volunteered to transfer and they moved back to Minneapolis.  Norvan’s career next took the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico; then to Dallas, Texas; and finally back to Albuquerque.

To say that Norvan loved to read would seem like an understatement.  He read a wide variety of books, magazines, and journals.  His family joked that he could open his own library.  His favorite genres were Science and History, both fiction and non-fiction.  He was a crossword and logic puzzle enthusiast.  If he did not have a book in hand, he could be found working on the puzzles.  He had a lifelong love of science, ranging from Archeology to Zoology with a particular interest in Astronomy.  He followed the exploration of space with great interest and the clear New Mexico night skies afforded him many opportunities to view the stars and planets with his 5-inch Newtonian telescope.  Norvan enjoyed living in New Mexico, happily introducing visiting friends and family to New Mexican cuisine.  He was delighted to show his granddaughter the tradition of making and displaying luminarias on Christmas Eve.  The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was one of the highlights of each year.  He loved to go down to the field to participate in the yearly gathering of hot air balloons enthusiasts - volunteering to be part of a chase crew a number of times.

He had an outgoing personality and enjoyed spending time with family and friends, whether welcoming them to his home or travelling to visit them.  He kept in contact thorough the years often sharing some interesting articles or humorous anecdotes.  Friends and family have commented on how they will miss his humor.  Norvan and his wife Mary Lee were privileged to support missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship, Evangelical Free Church of America, and Faith Presbyterian Christian Reformed Church of Guam.  They also supported local charities Animal Humane New Mexico and Joy Junction.

Norvan was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lee (Cassell), his half-brother Steven Allen, and his parents.  He is survived by his granddaughter Alexandra, daughter Noël, and son-in-law Daniel Force of Albuquerque; his half-brothers Thierry and wife Cindi Allen of Albany, Oregon and Frank and wife Margaret Allen of Salem, Oregon as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Memorial contributions in Norvan’s memory may be made to CurePSP (www. psp. org) or one of the organizations Norvan and Mary Lee supported.