Norma Elizabeth Thompson Feb. 11, 1928 - July 7, 2023
Norma Elizabeth Thompson (95) died Friday, July 7, 2023, at home in Lincoln, KS. She was born February 11, 1928, in Beloit, KS, to Norman and Clara (Koch) Wehl. They lived on a farm near Scottsville where she attended school until 1938 when the family moved to Beloit. She graduated from Beloit High School as valedictorian in 1946 with the distinction of straight As for all 12 years of school.
On June 26, 1945, Norma married Arlyn Simmons, Barnard. He had just been drafted into the army. When he returned from service, they moved to a farm south of Glen Elder where they had three children, Mike, Judy, and Jean. In 1955 they moved to Wichita, and Norma worked as a secretary at Beech Aircraft. They returned to Beloit in 1960, and Norma worked as bookkeeper at JC Penney before becoming secretary/fiscal officer at the newly-formed Vocational Technical School, a position she held for 13 years. She and Arlyn were divorced in 1972.
On July 30, 1976, Norma married Dean Thompson and moved to Lincoln, KS, where she welcomed Dean’s children, Mary Beth, Robert and Jeanne, into her family. She started her own business, Interior Décor, doing upholstery and selling and installing wall paper and window treatments. These were skills she had been using in her own home and in the homes of friends and relatives for many years. Norma continued this business into her 80s. She also spent many hours helping daughter Jean in her flower shop.
Norma was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Beloit, and later became a member of Lincoln Community Church. She had a strong faith and was an active church member throughout her lifetime. She truly lived her faith with love and service to others and a willingness to help wherever needed. She was a talented pianist, playing for numerous weddings and funerals and serving as church organist in every church she attended. She was a charter member of Allegro Music Club and was actively involved for more than 50 years.
Norma was an accomplished seamstress, sewing her own clothes and those of her daughters, who never had store-bought clothing until adulthood. She made wedding and bridesmaid dresses for several family members and often made clothing for her grandchildren. Norma liked to garden and raised beautiful flowers and vegetables. She also enjoyed dancing and spent many happy hours with Dean attending dances in nearby towns.
Norma’s true passion in life was spending time with her family, hosting large, boisterous dinners on holidays and birthdays. She especially loved camping, boating and waterskiing with her family, teaching many of her grandchildren how to water ski and drive the boat. She was still skiing on one ski at age 82 and spent the last weekend of her life at Lake Wilson, camping and enjoying the water with a large group of family and friends.
Norma will be dearly missed by her children, Judy (Mike) Lynch and Mary Beth (Joel) Anderson, Manhattan, Robert Thompson, Lincoln, and Jeanne (Curtis) Douglass, Newton; her daughter-in-law Anita Kay Simmons, Lincoln; her 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 2 greatgreat- grandchildren; her brother-inlaw, Richard Simmons, FL, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Dean, her son Mike Simmons, and her daughter Jean Rohrig. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2 at Lincoln Community Church, with burial of ashes to follow at Saltville Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Lincoln Community Church, Gideons International, or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be left at www. midwestcremationsociety.com.