Norma M. Nelson, 92, Washington, died Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the Centennial Homestead Nursing Home.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, at Ward Funeral Home in Washington.
A graveside funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, November 19, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia, Kansas. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the cemetery from 10:30 a.m. until service time.
Norma was born on a farm near Norway, Kan., in Republic County on June 28, 1928, to Wesley R. Ames and Mary Alice Ames (Jackson). She grew up on the family farm in Republic County, where she loved animals and especially liked cats. She could tell you the names of her father’s working horses.
Norma attended Concordia High School and graduated a member of the Class of 1946. She attended many of the class reunions. Norma worked as a telephone operator in Concordia, Kan. She later met her future husband, LaVerne. They were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church, Concordia, Kan., on December 5, 1948. Soon after they were married they moved to Washington, Kan., where LaVerne worked for Soil Conservation Office.
Family was important to Norma. She loved each one dearly. Her family was her focal point during the growing up years, and she enjoyed family dinners and birthday parties. She was a stay-at-home Mom who made delicious homemade cherry pies, fresh from the tree.
While living in Washington, Norma was a member of the Washington County Chorus. She loved to sing and usually sang in the church choir as well. She was also a member of Modern Pioneer (G.F.W.C.) women’s club. In Concordia, she worked for the Cloud County Treasurer’s office for several years before she retired.
Norma is a member of The Baptist Church, Concordia, Kan. She was an active member until she moved back to Washington in 2016 to be closer to her family. She had a deep faith in God and her faith gave her strength when she lost her husband in 1979 and later battled cancer in 1988. Norma was a loving mother who was devoted to her family and taking care of her children. She and LaVerne instilled values in their children that are still with them today.
She is survived by her son, Leland (Lee) (Cindy) Nelson, Manhattan, Kan., daughter, Marcia (Ron) Funke, Washington, Kan., and son, Kenny (Brenda) Nelson, Washington, Kan., sisters-in-law, Anita Nelson, Concordia, Kan., Regina Nelson, Concordia, Kan., and Ramona Dibley, Modesto, Calif., and brother-in-law, Darrell Nelson, of Concordia, Kan. Her four grandchildren are: Megan Schultejans (Greg), Corning, Kan., Dr. Zach Nelson (Meagan) Overland Park, Kan., Kelsie Beikmann (Jason), Greenleaf, Kan., Kimberly Nelson, of Washington, Kan. Her nine great-grandchildren include Dylan, Lilly, and Mason Schultejans, Corning, Kan., Cooper Deters, Corning, Kan., Brecklynn, Braeley, and Brittyn Beikmann, Greenleaf, Kan., and Elijah Brown and Kamden Nelson, of Washington, Kan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, LaVerne, in 1979, and granddaughter, Lacy Deters.
The family suggests memorials to Centennial Homestead, Washington, Kan., for an emergency COVID relief fund, or to The First Baptist Church, Concordia, Kan. Memorials may be sent to Ward Funeral Home, Washington, Kansas.
