Norma J. Thompson, 81 years of age, from Manhattan, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2024 in Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. She had been in poor health for some time and spent eight weeks in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities during that time.
Norma was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on June 12, 1942, and had lived in several places throughout her lifetime. She was employed at the Girard Press and later as a typesetter at the Lawrence Daily World. She also was the manager of three Senior Centers in southwest Missouri, served one term as president of the Missouri Association of Senior Center Managers, and served on the Governors Council on Aging.
As an infant, her parents, Claude and Mary (Sale) Henderson, who had lived in Cherokee when she was born, moved to Girard, where she attended school. She always considered Girard her hometown.
In 1975, she married Dean on July 30th and in August they moved to Lawrence, where Dean attended the University of Kansas and she worked at the local newspaper. In May of the following year, they moved to Columbus, where she began her many roles as a pastor's wife, a role she filled for many years. Norma had many talents. She kept an immaculate home and was an excellent cook. She loved her family and was always thrilled with their accomplishments in school and in life and when they came home to visit.
In 2007, she became a licensed local Methodist pastor in Nortonville and Cummings, two small congregations in northeast Kansas. Later, she became the pastor at Agenda and still later in Jamestown, both in north central Kansas, where she retired in 2012. Of all the places she had lived and all the things she had done in life, she was most thankful for her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she loved and served faithfully to the end and now is enjoying being in the presence of the King!
She is survived by her husband Dean, Manhattan; a son, Jim Townsend, and his wife, Jamie Schlichmayer, Denver; two daughters, Janie Ballenger, and her husband, Jim, Selma, Indiana; and Tara Jensen, and her husband, Jim, Manhattan; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many friends from all the places she had lived.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Billy Henderson.
A celebration of her life will be held March 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, Girard, KS where she grew up, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Pastor Mark Amspaugh and Pastor Jay Bessmer will be officiating. Interment will be in the Girard Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested in her name, and these may be left at the service or the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.
Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.
