Norma Jean "Norm" Harrigfeld

Norma Jean “Norm” Harrigfeld, of Peoria, Arizona, formerly of the Siouxland and Emerson, Nebraska area passed away Thursday, June 13, in Surprise, Arizona. Services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 26, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Emerson, Nebraska with the Rev. Gretchen Ritola officiating. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery, Emerson, Nebraska. Becker – Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. The winter of Norm’s birth was severe, and travel to a medical facility was impossible. She was born at home on March 18, 1926, the daughter of Will C. and Anna K. (Johnsen) Harrigfeld. She weighed less than three pounds. When she could first be seen by a Doctor, his first comment was that she could not live past the age of two. She went on to live a full, productive life of eighty-seven years. Although born with Cerebral Palsy and had limited use of her legs, she was blessed with “the strongest heart ever !” Norm grew up in northeast Nebraska, graduating from Emerson High Scholl in 1945. Following preparation for office administration at National Business Training College in Sioux City, she was employed by the same company in Sioux City for thirty-three years. Despite her severe handicaps, she was always cheerful, with a big smile on her face and loved a good laugh. Norm was very interested in helping others, and served as a volunteer at St. Luke’s Hospital for many years. In addition, Norm was active in Iowa’s United Cerebral Palsy, a support organization, where she was a member of the Board of Directors. She also had time to be active in the Soroptomists and volunteer at Good Will. Her early retirement years were spent in travel. Extensive touring in the continental United States was augmented by trips to Hawaii, Alaska and to Germany. In 1999, Norm moved to the Phoenix area of Arizona, to be near her sister, Joan. A lifelong member of the Luthearn Church she was a member of the congregation of American Lutheran Church of Sun City. She is survived by her three sisters: Joan (Charles) Earnshaw of Peoria, AZ, Maxine (Louis) Tichacek of Montgomery, TX and Wilma (Robert) Flaherty of Las Vegas, NV. She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Anne Harrigfeld and a sister Janet. In lieu of flowers, donotaions may be made to St. Paulo’s