Norma J. Abbott

Norma June Harder was born at home on October 31, 1934 to Joe and Mildred (Bauman) Harder first of seven children. She was Baptized on November 18, 1934 and Confirmed in March 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsburg, NE. She went to Silver Creek #19 Country school and then graduated from Ponca High School in 1948. She married Wayne Blair Abbott on April 29, 1956 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ponca, NE. They were married 42 years until Wayne passed away in 1998.

Norma held various jobs: Dixon County Treasurer, Elevator Operator at the Badgerow Building, Iowa Liquor Store, Kingsley News-Times, Lil Audrey’d Den. Kraft Kleaners, Care Initiatives for 10 years, and sold Avon for 20 years (1987-2007). Everyone looked forward to her Avon Open Houses at Christmas. She achieved President’s Club every year and Honor Society many years.

Norma was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. She also followed KP and was awarded Fan of the Year when Brett was in Majors and Minors Baseball League. She had a lot of collections-

tea pots, angels, rabbits but most of all - the 3 nativity pieces (Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus). She had forty eleven hundred of them.

Norma will be deeply missed by her family. She is survived by her daughters, Kim Spain, of Sioux City, IA, Lori (Bob) Smith of Jefferson, IA, Janet (Art) Otto of Kingsley, IA, son, Delwayne Merrill (Louise) Abbott of Kingsley, IA, sisters, Karen Hartman, Nancy Harder, Linda Rowell, sisters-in-law, Janelle Harder, Audrey Harder-Clark, Charlotte Wirsching, Barbara Lawrence, brothers-in-law, Jim Abbott, and Ronnie Abbott. Fourteen grandchildren, Kimberly (James) Barrington, Jennifer (Scott) Brooks, Christie (Greg) Stevens, Jason Smith, Jacque Smith, Brett (Christine) Herbold, Kiel Otto, Konner Otto, Melony (Terry) Ledgerwood, Travis (Melissa) Anderson, Brandon (Andrea) Anderson, Jonathon Otto, Ashley and Taylor Abbott. Twenty-one great - grandchildren, Samantha (Adrian) Cooper, Dylan Barrington, Mackenzie Barrington-Towers, Jackie (James) Engel, Katie Chastain, Brody Brooks, Michael Barfield, Skylar and Isabella Stevens, Weston and Abigail Herbold, Cheyenne Farley, Brooklyn Rhodes, Piper, Morgan, Wyatt and Colton Tremaine, Parker, Makenzie, Hannah and Braylon Anderson. One great-great grandchild, Cindy Lou Cooper.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, son, Rick in 1989, daughter, Sandra in 1958, son-in-law George Spain in 2008, parents, Joe and Mildred Harder, in-laws, Ronald and Opal Abbott, brothers, Lee, Larry and Calvin Harder, brothers-in-law, Eugene Hartman, Bill Abbott, niece, Gale Abbott, nephews, Guy Abbott, Darryl Wayne Wirsching, grandson, Chasten Otto Hillegass, great grandchildren, Kody Brooks and Jaelynn Anderson.</p