Norma Elene (Thompson) Thiede

Norma grew up on their dairy and produce farm where the work was never done, "because if it was, we could always shell popcorn." She loved growing things, having her hands in the soil and was the consummate farm kid. She said it was a wonderful life and she loved her state of Wisconsin with a lifelong passion. Norma adored children and taught school all around Richland County after getting a teaching certificate at Platteville, Wisconsin. She met her husband, Bill, the love of her life, at a fraternity party in Madison and told her parents that night she'd met the man she was going to marry. Six months later, she and Bill indeed married and moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where Bill worked as a civil engineer. They lived in La Crosse all their married life and raised four children together. After Bill's death in 1978, she turned a seasonal, part-time job into a career managing a Wisconsin Tourist Information Center. She could tell you anything about her State and was a superb direction-giver and map reader. Norma retired in 1993 and moved to Inver Grove, Minnesota, to be closer to her youngest daughter and her family.

Norma had a delicious sense of humor, an infectious, bawdy laugh, made friends effortlessly, read constantly, was creative in all things, curious about everything, and had a tireless energy and enthusiasm for living that drew people to her all of her life. Norma left this life on December 6th, 2022 and will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Barbara Qualley, Jann Wesley, Bill Thiede, Robert Thiede, brother Frank Thompson, sister, Donna Dosch, and her beloved grandsons, Will Thiede, Henry Price and Harry and Charlie Thiede.

A Service of Remembrance will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Wulff Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury, MN 55125, when all her children and family can gather together to celebrate her life in the warmth and sunshine. A lunch will follow the service at the funeral home.