Norma Davis

Funeral services for Norma Davis were held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Elmo Herman officiating.

Music was provided by Geoff Smith, soloist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist. Sheila Kahler was in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Les Neugebauer, Larissa Neugebauer, Allison Neugebauer, Bob Fenenga, Scott Anshutz and Wes Schell.

Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in harge of arrangements.

Norma Jean (Larsen) Davis was born February 24, 1930, in Colome, SD, the middle child of Chris and Jessie (Hamilton) Larsen.

Norma attended rural schools in Tripp County and graduated from Colome High School in 1948. She then attended Southern State Teachers’ College that summer and started her teaching career in the rural schools of Tripp County. Every summer thereafter found her back at Southern to further her career. She taught in Tripp and Gregory County rural schools and in Winner, Yankton, Burke, and Gregory city schools for a total of 39 years. The last 22 years of that time was as a kindergarten teacher in Gregory. Norma had a passion for teaching.

She married Kenneth E. Davis on December 22, 1955, in Yankton, SD. They lived on his family farm near Volin, SD. To this union two daughters were born, Linda and Angela. In 1961, Ken purchased Grim Trucking Company and they moved the family to Gregory, SD. Norma enjoyed traveling with Ken on their many sight-seeing trips and spending the winters in Arizona where they learned to square dance and golf. Ken passed away on September 9, 2001. Norma remained in their home until 2017 when she relocated to a Silver Threads independent apartment. In February of 2021, Norma decided to move closer to her daughters and resided at Edgewood Memory Care in Mitchell, SD.

Her granddaughters were her pride and joy and she loved to follow their accomplishments. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.

She passed away on July 14, 2021, in Mitchell, SD.

She is survived by her daughters Linda Davis of Sioux Falls, SD, and Angela (Lester) Neugebauer of Mitchell, SD, her granddaughters, Larissa Neugebauer of Sioux Falls, SD, and Allison Neugebauer of Madison, SD; her sister LaVerna (James) Mateicka of Winner, SD, several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, her parents, her mother and father-in-law (Donald and Dorothea Davis), her sister and brother-in-law Geraldine (I. Richard) Martinsen of Drums, PA, her sister-in-law Ruth Nyhaug of Yankton, SD, and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Clinton (Ardell) Davis of Irene, SD.