Norma Lynn (Larson) Willms was born on June 7, 1940 to Vernon and Blanche (Pfiefer) Larson in Tekoa, WA. She passed away from the COVID-19 on October 24, 2021 in Coeur d’Alene, ID. She was 81.
Norma grew up in the DeSmet, ID area and graduated from Plummer High School. She was very intelligent as a child and was promoted from the 4th grade to the 6th grade. After graduation, she attended Kinman Business School in Spokane. After getting her business certificate, she went to work for the Farmers & Merchants Bank in Rockford, WA. While working there as a teller, she met Melvin Willms. They married, and made their home in Sanders where they farmed. Norma and Melvin had 5 sons – Daniel, Douglas, Mark, Mike and Scott. They later divorced.
Norma struggled with mental health issues for many years. She resided in Spokane and Moscow, working first as a nursing assistant, and then later at the Chang Sing Restaurant in Moscow. She retired in 2001. Of special joy was to spend her last years living out at the family farm in DeSmet, and attending the Sanders Church. She had many friends in the church and community and was loved by all.
Norma loved hand crafts, drawing, and photography. She especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends, and checked in on family members daily over the phone. She had a special love and concern for her five sons.
She is survived by her sister, Mary (Bob) Lewis of Everett, WA; her brother Vern (Juanita) Larson of DeSmet; her sister-in-law, Marilyn Larson of Post Falls, ID; her aunt Theresa Pfiefer-Rape of Marysville, WA; her sons Daniel Willms of DeSmet; Douglas (Annette) Willms of Valley, WA; Mark (Kellie) Willms of Pomerene, AZ; Michael (Angie) Willms of Rockford, WA; Scott (Lisa) Willms of Spokane Valley, WA, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Henry Larson.
A funeral service for Norma will be held Friday, October 29, at 11am at His Church at Sanders, 11249 Sanders Rd, Tensed, ID. A private graveside service will be later to follow at Rockford at the Fairview Cemetery at 1pm. Bell & Tower Funeral Home of Post Falls is handling her final care.