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Norma McDowell, Age 87

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"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job1:21b

The Lord gave Norma Loraine McDowell to her parents, Jay and Gussie McDowell, on December 28th, 1927 near Kipp, KS. She was taken away on September 25th, 2015 in Elgin, IL. Norma is survived by her four children; Karalee Fisher (John) of Perry, KS, Jan Smith (Jay) of Elgin, IL, Galen Larson (Arleta) of rural Athol, and Lea Norcross (J.D. II) of Champaign, IL; nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Norma was a farm girl through and through. Growing up on a dairy farm, she learned how to work hard. She and her two older brothers, Eldon and Irvin, would help with the milking before and after school. The three of them would ride a Shetland pony to school and in the winter the pony would pull a sled. Since they didn't have back packs, they would often have to stop to pick up dropped books or lunch pails. She also drove a tractor, plowing after the wheat was cut. Sometimes she would take a team of horses pulling a wagon full of wheat to the grain elevator. In the evening she gathered eggs, fed the chickens and gathered wood for the wood burning stove. On Saturday she cleaned eggs to sell in town, and used the money to buy groceries for the week. This was all in addition to school and church activities, playing the tuba in the band, and becoming an excellent seamstress through 4-H. She probably never complained to her parents that she was bored! After graduating from Kipp High School in 1945, Norma attended what is now called Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, majoring in home economics. While at Kansas State Norma attended a 4-H square dance and met her future husband, Thaine Larson. After a couple of years, she transferred to Friends University in Wichita, KS and received her teaching certificate. She taught 2nd grade in Minneola, KS for two years.

Thaine and Norma were married in 1951 and spent most of their lives on a farm in rural Athol. They were involved in a multitude of church, community and school activities: Hospice, EHU, and Quilt Guild ... to name a few. 4-H played a huge part in her life as she and Thaine were 4-H club leaders for 17 years while their four children were involved in 4-H. Every summer was a flurry of activity trying to get all the projects ready for the Smith County Fair. She passed on her love of sewing to her three daughters, many of her granddaughters and 4-H club members. Norma also made sure all the grandchildren received music lessons. In her "empty nest" years, in addition to keeping up with her 19 grandchildren and ever increasing great-grandchildren, she made countless quilts for family and friends and taught quilting classes. In 2013, Norma moved to Illinois to live out the rest of her days near Jan and Lea. She will be greatly missed; many will go to bed tonight, snuggle under a quilt she has made and thank the Lord for the life of Norma Larson.

Celebration of life services will be held at 10:30AM Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the United Church of Christ of Athol.

The family has requested memorial contributions be given to the United Church of Christ of Athol and can be sent in care of the mortuary.

 

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA