Norma J. Schneekloth

NORMA JEAN SCHNEEKLOTH was born on December 11, 1928 to Henry and Nora (Hamann) Kemerling in Moline, Illinois. At the age of two, her family moved to Magnolia, Minnesota where she lived on a farm southeast of town. Due to the construction of the interstate system, in 1942 the family moved to a farm one mile south of Hardwick, Minnesota. 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 January 12, 1947, the couple was united in marriage 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 1990’s. Lester preceded her in death on October 5, 1995. Norma continued to reside at their home until a number of years later when she moved to the Oaks and then transitioned to Poplar Creek Assisted Living in Luverne. On Monday, May 11, 2020, while at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage, Norma went to her heavenly reward at the age of 91 years and 5 months.

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 was a strong Christian woman who held firm to her faith. 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. Even though Norma wasn’t a tall woman, she was a tower of strength for her children.

Norma is lovingly remembered by her children, Deanna (Jeff) Jensen of Odessa, MN, Howard (Cindy) Schneekloth of Watertown, SD, Gloria (Ron) Evans of Pipestone, MN, Thomas (Donna) Schneekloth of Sauk Rapids, MN, Terry (Denise) Schneekloth of Marshall, MN 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).