Fare Thee Well, Betty

Today Kris and I and her family will participate in the funeral of her elderly mother. Betty Norman was a delightful mother-in-law and we love her and will miss her, and consider ourselves blessed to have been in her circle of mothering.

She died painlessly and quietly in her sleep Monday night.

The picture is a recent one of Kris, Betty and me.

In the last few years as Betty aged, Kris and Pat routinely traveled to visit with her but nothing can compare with the patient, caring, attentive love of her youngest son, Pete, who lived in Freeport near Betty. We offer this tribute of thanks to you Pete.

As Christians funerals are not just times of departure for us but times to reflect on the glorious power of God in raising Christ from the dead, in cracking the Stone Table and reversing the thunderous fear of death, and declaring that the last great word is Life!

Obituary:

Elizabeth (Betty) K. Norman, 88, of Freeport died Tuesday at F.H.N. Memorial Hospital following a short illness. Betty was born December 4, 1923 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Howard and Mabel (Burgess) Aldrich. Betty was raised in Sioux City, Iowa, attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She was a member of Tri Delta sorority and graduated in 1946. Betty married Ronald C. Norman on March 18, 1944 in Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Norman died May 19, 1997. Mrs. Norman was a homemaker and school teacher. She was a member of First Presbyterian-United Presbyterian Church and a member of P E O Sisterhood. Survivors include: three sons: Ron (Mae) Norman of Victor, Colorado, Tom (Sarah) Norman of Des Moines, Iowa and Peter (Jen) Norman of Freeport. Two daughters, Pat (Bob) Arnet of St. Charles, Illinois and Kristen (Scot) McKnight of Libertyville, Illinois. Ten grandchildren, Laura (Mark) Barringer of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Lukas (Annika) McKnight of Gurnee, Illinois, Kari (Jonathan) Williams of St. Petersburg, Fla., Allison, Riley, Sam and Ben Norman, all of Des Moines, Iowa, Eric, Katie and Luke Norman all of Freeport. Also, two great-grandchildren, Aksel and Finley McKnight of Gurnee, Illinois. Mrs. Norman was preceded in death by her husband, brother Howard and her parents. A funeral service for Mrs. Norman will be Friday, 10:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian- United Presbyterian Church, Freeport. Rev. Kathleen Luke, pastor will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home 504 N. Walnut Ave. Freeport. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for The Ron and Betty Norman Student Scholarship Fund. Please visit wwwburketubbs.com to sign the online guestbook.