Norma L. Peterson

Norma Peterson, 92, long-time Kearney resident, died Thursday, February 1, 2024, surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 23, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Matt Fowler officiating. Burial will follow at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be an hour before the service. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Norma Lee Epley was the first child and only daughter of Elmer and Mildred (Hird) Epley. She was born May 22, 1931 in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. In 1937 her family moved to Nebraska where they lived on several different farms in Buffalo County, and she attended one room rural schools. Norma graduated from Pleasanton High School in 1949, received her teaching certificate from Kearney State Teachers College, and taught in one room schools in the Pleasanton area before becoming an elementary teacher in the Pleasanton Schools. On August 15, 1954 she married Lee Donald Peterson in the United Brethren Church of Pleasanton, where she had been baptized and was a member. After the wedding, she transferred membership to the Riverdale United Methodist Church, where she was active until it closed in 1978 and they joined the United Methodist Church of Kearney. Norma moved to Kearney in 2001. Lee and Norma lived on a farm near Riverdale, where they raised their three sons: Larry Lee, LeRoy Dean, and Lesley Donald. Besides being a farm wife, Norma graduated from Kearney State College in 1978 and taught in the Riverdale Elementary School until she retired in 1994. Two of her hobbies were reading and making photo history books of her extended family. Family was very important to her, and she put together photo history books for her relatives. Norma, along with many of her relatives, played musical instruments. When she was young, every town had its own dance hall, and Norma enjoyed dancing at those country dances. Norma was preceded in death by her husband Lee in 1999, and also by her parents and three brothers: Jim, Don, and Max Epley of Pleasanton. She is survived by her sons Larry (Lynn) Peterson of Tucson, AZ; LeRoy (Amy) Peterson of Omaha, NE; and Lesley (Nickola) Peterson of Leawood, KS; along with seven grandchildren, Ryan, Kevin, Eric, Samantha, Jessica, Morgan and Aaron; one great granddaughter Tatum; a great grandson Miller and many nieces and nephews.

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Norma L. Peterson

May 22, 1931 - February 1, 2024