Norma J. Babcock, age 86, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away on Monday, September 7, 2020 at Linden Court in North Platte.
Norma was born on April 7, 1934 to harvey Herman and Martha Kathern (Stiegemeier) Hobrock in Hastings, Nebraska where she grew up. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and attended Hastings Public Schools, graduating in 1952. She went on to Hastings College, then the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, earning her teaching certificate. Norma taught in Lincoln and Hastings in Nebraska, and at Sandia Base Kindergarten in Albuquerque, New Mexico and starting in the 9th grade, she taught Sunday School at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings and later St. Luke's Lutheran Church in New Mexico and Messiah Lutheran Church in North Platte, Nebraska.
On June 7, 1955, Norma was united in marriage to Roger C. Babcock at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings with Pastor Paul M. deFreeze officiating. The couple was blessed with two children, Michael and Sharon, and over 65 years of marriage.
Norma enjoyed working with children and being active in organizations that helped children. She served on various boards including St. Luke's Weekday Kindergarten, Camp Fire Girls and Commission of Christian Concern. Norma was also coordinator of the Sunday Church School at Messiah Lutheran Church.
Genealogy was Norma's hobby. She enjoyed compiling family histories for both her family and Roger's family. Norma leaves her family with a rich history of their past.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Martha Hobrock; and a sister and her husband, Dorothy and Gail Harrenstein.
Norma is survived by her husband, Roger of North Platte and their children, Michael (Vicki) Babcock of Manassas, Virginia and Sharon (Jean) Babcock of Ft. Defiance, Virginia; and other family.
Cremation was chosen with a private graveside service. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonia Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska, which is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roger C. and Norma J (Holbrock) Babcock Scholarship Fund, Hastings College Foundation, 710 North Turner Avenue, Hastings, NE 68901, or at hastings.edu/alumni.