She was raised in the Pacific Northwest primarily in Kalispell, Montana and Bremerton, Washington. Norma had a particular affinity for Kalispell and loved to talk of the mountains and the natural beauty of the area. Her family in the Northwest was especially important to her. Even as she moved far away later in life, family remained a constant and valued part of her heart.
Norma met her husband, Pete while attending Whitworth College in Spokane, WA. They married in 1952 and went on to have two children, Susan and Philip. Norma and Pete spent the great part of their lives involved in and working for Young Life. Through this ministry, they lived in Tyler, TX, Dallas, TX, Tacoma, WA, New Orleans, LA, Huntsville, AL, Memphis, TN, and Nairobi, Kenya. She spent the last part of her life working in ministry at Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis, until retiring just a few years ago.
In addition to being a loving mother, Norma loved being involved in ministry with Pete. It was a true partnership. Her greatest pleasure in life was sharing Jesus with others, and she never met anyone that she did not consider to be a friend. Her concern for others was genuine and her prayer list was long.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and March, and her brother Dick Bjorneby. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Donald M. (Pete) Bennett, her daughter, Susan Bennett Tucker (Rob), her son, Philip Bennett (Cammie), her four grandsons, Robert (Bear) Tucker IV, Brett Bennett, Coby Bennett, and Jaret Bennett, and her brother Robert (BJ) Bjorneby (Anna) of Seattle, WA. Norma is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Pat Bjorneby and Adelaide Bennett, a cousin, Ladd Bjorneby, along with many nieces and nephews who were all extremely special to her.
A celebration of Norma’s life will be held this Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Hope Church at 11:00AM. Informal visitation begins at 10:00AM. Mask and social distancing rules will be followed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Hope Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Drive, Cordova, TN 38018 or to Young Life @ Young Life Giving. The online guestbook is available at www.familyfuneralmemphis.com
II Timothy 4:7-8
