Norma Ilene Denker, 92, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away peacefully at home on May 13, 2022 surrounded by her family. She came into this world on December 3rd, 1929, as the second daughter of Charles and Clara McBride. She was born in a small house on the family farm in rural Dundy County, Nebraska.
As a young girl, the family farm was 7 miles south and 1 mile east of Wauneta, Nebraska. Their farm, located on the south divide, was nestled among many nearby family farms and much of her childhood was spent with frequent visits to and from her large extended families. Long before babysitters or daycares existed, Norma had to accompany her mother as the Kitt family quartet sang and played at weddings and funerals. Norma always swore she disliked the smell of carnations because of their profuse scent at the many funerals she attended with her mother as a girl. Music was a big part of her life, and the family also participated in many of the events and the formation of the Mt. Zion church near her home. She attended a small, one room schoolhouse as a young girl, before the family moved to Brush, Colorado when she was 8 years old. It was here that the family first enjoyed the conveniences of electricity and an indoor bathroom, with an actual sink, toilet and bathtub. She recalled what a splendid luxury that was for them. She spent the remainder of her school years in Brush, and graduated from Brush High School in 1947.
As her life as a young woman began, she moved to Greeley, Colorado where she attended several years of college, before the school’s principal in Sunrise, Wyoming invited (“practically begged”) her to become a teacher there. This small mining town was where she met her first husband and the father of their 4 children. After several years in Sunrise, the young Hohnholt family moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado. From there, they eventually settled in Broomfield, Colorado, where they lived until moving in 1972, to Longmont, Colorado for several years. Not always lucky in love, Norma divorced her second husband in 1974 and escaped to safety and family in Wauneta, Nebraska where she lived for many years. It was here that she married Ivan Denker. This was a good, solid marriage that lasted until Ike passed away in 1993. She worked for many years at the Wauneta Co-op Oil company as a bookkeeper. She always loved this job and developed many lifelong friendships while in Wauneta. She retired in 1994 and later on moved to North Platte, Nebraska, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Norma enjoyed travel and went on many trips in the U.S., visiting both the east and west coasts, Hawaii and numerous places in between. She liked bowling and played some golf when she was younger. She also loved playing bridge and other card games and passed on the competitive nature she inherited from her dad, Charlie McBride, to her children and they often engaged in some very competitive card and board games or corn hole when they got together. She had enjoyed reading and was a frequent borrower of library books until her vision diminished and she had to give it up. She joined the Newcomers Club upon first arriving in North Platte and also attended Red Hat festivities. A bit later on, Norma volunteered at the North Platte hospital. Because she had such beautiful handwriting, they began asking her every year to address the invitations for their yearly appreciation banquet. Blessed with a keen wit, family get-togethers were something that her 4 children and their children will always remember. As rowdy as it got, the laughter, camaraderie and family times spent together are occasions that all generations she produced enjoyed immensely. She loved music and we could always get her toes tapping by playing some big band music, or a little Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. She had many favorite hymns that were also a part of her life.
Norma was a very devoted mother to her four children; Dennis (Judy) Hohnholt, Judi Starnes, Jon (Jerlyn) Hohnholt and Jim (Denise) Hohnholt. She had 8 grandchildren; Jesse Starnes, Jessica Hohnholt-Tedore, Sara Starnes-Chiasson, Matthew Hohnholt, Melissa Hohnholt-Palacios, Brogen Hohnholt, Chase Hohnholt and Stephen Hohnholt. She also leaves behind 5 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Clara McBride. One sister, Donna Williams and her third husband Ike Denker. Waiting to reunite with her, was also her son Jon Hohnholt and many, many friends and relatives.
While we will miss her greatly, her passing leaves behind a beautiful testament of love and the comfort of knowing that after 92 years she had a life well-lived which was filled with many memories and blessings. The family would especially like to acknowledge the Hospice Care staff for their understanding, assistance and care. They made Norma’s passage peaceful and pain free.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of Norma’s favorite charities; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38510. Boys Town, P.O. Box 6000, Boys Town, NE 68010-9988. Anchor Center for Blind Children, 2550 Roslyn Street, Denver, CO 80238. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com
Services will be held at 9:00 A.M., on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Burial will be held at a later date. Book signing will be 9:00 – 5:00, on Friday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements. The family requests casual attire for the service.