Norma A. Fenske, 99
Rapid City,?S.D. Norma Annette Fenske, age 99, of Rapid City, S.D., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Norma was born on March 1, 1913, in Madelia, to Marti and Clara (Ulvestad) Nelson. In 1936, she married Don Fenske in Forest City, Iowa, and was later divorced. She obtained her Elementary Education degree through Mankato State University and the University of Northern Michigan and taught first grade, first in a one room country schoolhouse and then in elementary schools in Waldorf, Delavan and Blue Earth. She continued to teach first grade for 34 years.
She retired from teaching in 1977 and in 1988, she moved to Rapid City from Blue Earth to be closer to family.
Norma loved to travel, studied art and was an accomplished artist. Teaching was her passion and she adored her students and loved to teach her 1st graders to read. She is lovingly remembered by many of her students even today. She was an ideal mother to her son, David and daughter, Virginia and she was a woman who was a wise and practical counselor to her family and love them all unconditionally.
Survivors include her son, David A. (Judy) Fenske, of Rapid City; granddaughters, Christy (Kevin) Kaiser, of Shoreview, Casey (Lee) Westphal, of Hills, Cori (Russ) Erhardt, of Rapid City, and Katy and Ann Petersen, of Calamus, Iowa; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Virginia (Fenske) Petersen; son-in-law, Robert Petersen; granddaughter, Kari Petersen; sister, Irene Nelson; and brothers, Edwin and Oliver Nelson.
She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church.
Memorial Services were held Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church Chapel on Sheridan Lake Road in Rapid City. The Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiated. A memorial has been established to the Calvary Lutheran Organ Fund.
Friends may sign Norma’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com