Irma Norleman was born April 19, 1927 in Westby, Wisconsin to Peter and Rachel Andersen Norleman. Her father was the pastor of the Norwegian Methodist Church in Westby. During her childhood Irma moved many times with her family to places which included Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hillsboro, North Dakota, Omaha, Nebraska, Los Angeles, California and Everett, Washington. She graduated from high school in Everett, Washington and then in 1951 graduated from North Park College and Bible Institute.
For Irma, the most important thing in life was receiving Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was about 4 years of age at her mother’s knee. When she was 12 she received the assurance of her salvation during special meetings with Dr. Paul Reece and then in high school she dedicated her life to full time Christian service.
After college, Irma sang with a mixed quartet from North Park and traveled one summer out east with North Park’s chaplain. At that time she was asked to take a position at a Covenant Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut as the Director of Religious Education where Rev. Dwight Elving was pastor. Two years later she took a position in Seattle with the Seattle Times as a proof-reader. Rev. Earl VanderVeer, pastor of the Highland Covenant Church in Bellevue asked her to come and serve there as the Director of Religious Education which she accepted. In 1958, Irma was called to be a National Representative with Christian Business and Professional Women and Christian Women’s Clubs of America and Canada. This was an organization founded by Mrs. Helen Duff Bough. Irma went on to become the Conference Coordinator for Christian Women’s Clubs, planning 22 conferences annually all over the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Not only did she make the arrangements for the conferences, procure the speakers, but she also would preside and lead singing as well as sing solo’s at these events. She would close each conference by singing either, “To be used of God,” or “Fill all My Vision.” The most thrilling thing for Irma in her work was seeing hundreds of people come to know Christ personally. She stated, “that’s what we’re here on earth for, that others would know Him!”
Irma was preceded in death by her parents and by her three sisters, Muriel Swanson, June Metcalf and Ruth LaSelle. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
Irma’s life verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
Irma went to her heavenly reward on Thursday, May 27th, 2021 “Thanks be to God!”
In memory of Irma please chose to donate to one of these organizations.
“Good Samaritan Fund” OR to "CRISTA Ministries", with note on the memo line saying "for Good Samaritan Fund".
19303 Fremont Ave N MS 15
Seattle, WA 98133
Donations can also be made via this link https://cristaseniorliving.org/donate/goodsam
OR
Stonecroft Ministries
PO Box 8900
Kansas City MO 64114
OR
Village Missions
PO Box 197
Dallas OR 97338
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Norleman family.
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