Norma worked over 40 years for the State of Michigan at the Treasury Department. She was a strong role model to many, and raised two daughters on her own. She met hard times head on, worked through them and kept moving forward. She did not look back, except to remember the wonderful memories of family and friends.
Norma loved her family, her cats, the awakening of Spring, flowers, knitting, reading, playing dominoes, and an occasional partaking of Moscato or Blue Moon Beer.
She was determined to turn 90, which she did. She was also determined to knit afghans for all her great grandchildren, and she did, finishing the last one the week before she died.
Norma is now reunited with her parents, Nina and Cleo Esterline; sister, Beverly Cohoon;
brother, James Esterline; sister-in-law, Bonnie Esterline; daughter, Lynn (Chicki) Rieves; sons-in-law, Russell Rieves and Douglas Menninga; beloved cousin, Betty Goucher.
Her spirit is still alive in her family: daughter, Deborah Menninga; grandchildren, Russ Rieves Jr. (Jean), Renee Taft (Phil), Kelsey Menninga, and Audrey Menninga; great grandchildren, Dane Rieves, Ella Taft, Bri Kelly and great-great grandchild, Olivia Ortega; as well as four wonderful, loving nieces.
A graveside service for Norma will take place at noon Monday, August 13, 2018 at DeWitt Cemetery, 780 N. Bridge St., DeWitt, MI 48820.
If I could save some part of you
it would be this day
this hour would do --
Your eyes alight with such surprise
to see how spring
can change the sky
and touch the trees
and find the flowers.
Elenore Lewis
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