Norma Isabella Larsen

Norma Isabella Knight Larsen was born on 24 February 1933. Her parents were Joseph Bence and Agnes Florence Tolbert Knight. Norma was born in Yakima Washington as were her mother and grandmother. While growing up in Yakima, Norma even had some of the same teachers while attending the same schools as her mother. Her great grandparents had been celebrated as original settlers to Yakima County, Washington.

Life was difficult for Norma in the beginning because she was born with a mild case of Spina Bifida. When Norma was one year old she entered the Seattle Children’s Hospital for surgery and spent a year there recovering. The surgery she had was experimental. Although at the time it was very difficult in so many ways for baby Norma and her parents it gave her the best chance at a normal life available at the time. They took a bone out of her leg and placed it next to her spine to straighten her back and grow with her. It was a success and she had a pretty nice, normal life. After she came home her parents doted on her which she rather enjoyed.

Norma’s parents divorced when she was 8 years old. This was a very traumatic experience in her young life. After the divorce she rarely saw her father so she made up a super person that she talked about her entire life. When Norma was 10 her mother married again and Norma was not happy about it. At the age of 14 in 1948 she moved with her mother and stepfather to Portland, Oregon. Her stepfather found a job at Dwyer Lumber Company and later her mother worked for Layton Creations.as a power sewing machine operator.

When Norma talked about High School she sounded as if she enjoyed those years. Lots of friends. Dates. Her best friend lived right across the street. There were city buses. She could go all over town with Janine Bond, her best friend.

She graduated from High School in 1951. Norma had several jobs after graduation that she either didn’t like or had trouble doing. But she tried. When Norma was 19 she went on a double date with friends. There was an Air Force airman in the backseat that she didn’t know. He was supposed to be with her friend but instead he spend the evening just talking to Norma. His name was Gordon Larsen. After that they started dating and were married on 20 August 1953 at the First Christian Church in Portland, Oregon.

For the first two years the newlyweds lived with Norma’s parents and the several foster children that her parents cared for. Also during those years Norma and Gordon brought their first baby home. They bought a small home and lived there for seven years. During that time they were blessed with three more children and Norma always talked about how much she loved that home.

When the youngest child was still a baby Gordon, who worked as a salesman and had moved up in the company was transferred to the Seattle area. They found a beautiful home in Kirkland Washington after spending the summer of 1963 in a rented home on the beach at Mercer Island. It was a very warm summer and beautiful there.

The new home was a large ranch which was lovely and immaculate. Norma missed her family and friends. She didn’t know anyone in Kirkland and really disliked that. Eventually she took her children back to Portland on the train. Through that summer Norma and her children lived with her parents until Gordon packed up the house and followed her back to Portland.

Norma and Gordon traded that home in Kirkland for a not as nice home near Gresham Oregon. But over the years they fixed it, made it their own, and lived there for over 40 years. All four children grew up there, married and had families of their own.

When Norma was in her late 30’s and early 40’s she was a daycare provider for children from birth to two years old. At the age of two the children could go across the street to the day care center. After a few years Norma was able to save up enough money to go to school to become a hairdresser. She was a hairdresser for several years and really enjoyed it. Also during that time Norma and Gordon travelled to England and Paris because twice because Gordon was top salesman for the year.

As the years went by Gordon developed Parkinson’s disease which ultimately took his life at the age of 83. They had been married for 63 years. Things became more difficult for Norma in the years that followed Gordon’s death. She had trouble remembering things and her eyesight became worse. As she aged it became harder to care for herself.

After a slow decline Norma Isabella Knight Larsen left this earth on the 22 July 2023. She was 90 years old.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Alma Larsen, her parents, Agnes Florence Tolbert Knight Manda, Joseph Bence Knight, her stepfather, Conrad Manda, favorite aunt and uncle, Elizabeth May Tolbert Smith, Clyde Raleigh Smith.

Norma also leaves behind her four children, Sharol Jean Larsen Bench, Carl Gordon Larsen (Mary Leavenworth), Eileen Gayle Larsen Bowcut (Bruce), Michael Lewis Larsen (Nancy), 21 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Larsen family.