Norma Bernice Aden, daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Schulz) Sinnen, was born on May4, 1920, in Upland, Nebraska. As a youth Norma attended Upland Country School. After completing the eighth grade, Norma and her family moved in 1935 to Okabena, Minnesota, where Norma began working for local families, helping with the cleaning, cooking and other chores around the farms. It was while working for one of these families where she would meet her future husband, Louis. Norma and Louis were married on February 18, 1940 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okabena. After marriage, the young couple moved to a farm west of Heron Lake, where they lived for four years, after which the couple bought a farm near Okabena, where they would live until 1979, when they moved into Okabena. In August of 2009 Norma became a resident of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield, where she passed away, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the age of eighty-nine years, nine months, and nineteen days. Norma was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Upland, Nebraska. After she and her family moved to Okabena, Norma became a member of St. John's Church where she taught Sunday school for over twenty years. She was also a member of the St. John's Ladies Aid her entire adult life. Norma was a crafty lady, who enjoyed embroidery and sewing. Norma loved being outdoors where she could tend her garden and, after Louis' retirement, they would go on fishing trips up North to Lake Amelia. Norma also loved to travel; she and Louis spent twenty years as snow birds, spending two winters in Florida and another eighteen winters in McAllen, Texas. Norma loved to watch her Minnesota Twins, traveling to the Metrodome to see them play only once and deciding the television had a better view. Norma is survived by her husband of seventy years, Louis; her two sons, Rod (Ruth) Aden of Bigelow and Jim (Joyce) Aden of Lakefield; a daughter, Kathy (Regan) Lueck of Okabena, as well as ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, a step great-granddaughter and a step great-great-granddaughter. Norma is also survived by her two sisters, Esther Bartels of Franklin, Nebraska and June Bayerkohler of St. James, MN; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Aden of Heron Lake, MN and Frieda Aden of St. Anthony, MN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Dennis Aden, a brother, Dwuaine Sinnen, a sister, Dorothy Bartels, and a grandson. Blessed be the memory of Norma Bernice Aden. Funeral Services were held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okabena on Saturday, February 27, 2010. The Officiant was Pastor James Albrecht. Interment was at st. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Okabena, Minnesota.
Tri County News, March 3, 2010
Provided by Linda Rhoadarmer