Norma Schneekloth, 91, Luverne, died peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2020, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
In accordance with Minnesota Executive Order and CDC guidelines, a private family service will take place on Friday, May 15, 2020, at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. The service will be recorded and placed onto her webpage for others to view.
Norma Jean Kemerling was born on Dec. 11, 1928, to Henry and Nora (Hamann) Kemerling in Moline, Illinois. At the age of two, she moved with her family to a farm southeast of Magnolia. Due to the construction of the interstate system, in 1942 the family moved to a farm one mile south of Hardwick. She attended school at Magnolia through the eighth grade and then went to Luverne High School where she graduated with the class of 1946. She met her future husband, Lester Schneekloth, who introduced her to the Christian faith. Norma was baptized and confirmed on June 29, 1947.
On Jan. 12, 1947, Norma married Lester Schneekloth at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The couple made their home on the Schneekloth family farm until 1983 when they moved into Luverne. Norma loved being a farm wife and raising her children. She also worked as a cook at Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne until the early 1990s. Lester preceded her in death on Oct. 5, 1995. Norma continued to reside at their home until a number of years later when she moved to The Oaks and then to Poplar Creek Assisted Living in Luverne.
Norma was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where she served on the altar guild and was a member of the Ladies Aid.
She enjoyed playing cards, jigsaw puzzles and quilting. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and kept notebooks on player stats (even when they should have been taken out of the game). She was a fantastic mother and grandmother, always remembering birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.
Norma is survived by her children, Deanna (Jeff) Jensen of Odessa, Howard (Cindy) Schneekloth of Watertown, South Dakota, Gloria (Ron) Evans of Pipestone, Thomas (Donna) Schneekloth of Sauk Rapids, Terry (Denise) Schneekloth of Marshall, and Randy (Susan) Schneekloth of Luverne; 21 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; daughters-in-law Marian Schneekloth of Luverne and Paula Petersen-Giles (Dan Giles) of Marshall; her sister, Dorothy Petersen of Luverne; and her sister-in-law, Doris Kemerling of Luverne; and other family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester; and her children, Steven (2015) and John (1993).
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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