BEVERLY A. NORMAN, 84, of Grant, NE, passed away Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE.
Beverly was born February 1, 1937, at Hastings, Nebraska, to Lawrence and Matilda (Schutte) Erthum. Bev graduated from Ogallala High School with the class of 1955.
On August 3, 1957, Bev married Maynard Norman at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala. Maynard was serving in the Navy at the time, and the couple made their home in Olathe, KS briefly, before moving to San Diego, CA. Following Maynard's discharge from the Navy, the family moved to Grant, where Bev worked for nearly thirty years at the Grant Tribune Sentinel in Ad Sales.
Bev was a mainstay at the newspaper, with her tenure spanning the employ of a multitude of editors over the years. She traveled throughout Perkins County and the surrounding area over the years and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the people. Bev retired from the paper in 1999, and her focus shifted to spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bev was a devoted grandmother and was an ardent supporter of her grandchildren's endeavors. She was always at their sporting events, soaking up the experience and enjoying the people she got to visit with along the way.
Bev was in her element when she was around people. Bev loved to visit and be in community with others, from selling advertising to attending social events and ball games. Bev gained a special appreciation for even the little things when her life began to slow down, like a trip to her favorite store, Hatch's.
After Maynard passed away, Bev traveled as many places as she could. She always said Dad never wanted to stay home, but we are convinced it was her that was behind it all of those years. She traveled with her sister and sidekick, Barbara, through Europe, Australia, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Rome, and throughout the United States. They were in London the day of Princess Diana's funeral. Aside from the many family weekends at the lake growing up, our all-time favorite is when she took all of her children and spouses for five days in California to watch the Huskers play in the Rose Bowl. When asked which of her many trips was the best, Bev always replied in a way that strikes new meaning today... "the last one is always the favorite". May the perpetual light shine upon her on her last favorite journey.
Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard; grandson, Gregory Jay Sis; great-grandson, Caden Alexander Maxon; sister, Barbara Hahn; and an infant brother.
Survivors include her children, David (Susan) Norman of Ogallala, Cheri (Greg) Sis of Elsie, Richard (Jacque) Norman of Imperial; 11 grandchildren, Christopher (Jeanette) Norman of Littleton, CO, Angela (Jeff) McBride of Ogallala, NE, Alison (Lawrence) Maxon of Aurora, CO, Mitchell (Samantha) Norman of Ashland, NE, Nikki (Brent) Downey of Kearney, NE, Carlie Sis (fiance Shay Stutsman) of Aspen, CO, Jenni (Kyle) Iske of Elkhorn, NE, Derek Sis of Lincoln, NE, Andrew (Angie) Norman of Omaha, NE, Joel Norman of Independence, MO, Jeff (Alexa) Banks of Imperial, NE; 18 great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Cole, & Natalie Norman, Jenna, Olivia, Trevor, & Isabel McBride, Austin, Landon, & Riley Maxon, (baby Norman on the way), Ava, Owen, & Luke Downey, Townsend Norman, Abe, Hayden, & Reign Norman, & Cameron Banks; sister, Carolyn (David) Cadenhead of Swan Point, MD; along with many other relatives and friends.
A memorial has been established in Bev's memory for later designation with the intent to support Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church and Westview Assisted Living. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.
Funeral Mass will be on Friday, April 23, 2021, at 10 am at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Bush as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Grant Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Thursday, from 1 pm until 4 pm at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant. The Rosary will be recited Thursday at 6:30 pm at the church.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant is in charge of arrangements.