Norma E. Lohse

Norma E. Lohse, 99 years of age, of Beatrice, passed away at the Good Samaritan Center in Beatrice, Wednesday evening, July 4, 2018. She was born on January 29, 1919, in Linn, Kansas, to Louis and Louise (Oestreich) Boerger, and attended school in Linn. Norma and Edwin Lohse were married on May 26, 1935, in Linn. They lived in Hanover, Kansas, until moving to Beatrice in 1951. Norma was employed at J.C. Penney in Beatrice for 40 years and owned and operated Norma's Draperies for 20 years. She was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Beatrice and was involved with LWML and the Eunice Circle; member and past board member of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce and received their Lifetime Achievement Award and Citizenship Award; Chamber Ambassadors for many years and was recognized as Ambassador of the year three times, and was a 14-star Ambassador; past member and chairman of the Women's Division of the Chamber. Norma was a past member and president of Beatrice Rose Society and Beatrice Civic Garden Clubs; and was superintendent of Horticulture and the Gage County Fair for many years. Norma loved flowers and had a rose garden (totaling 300 rose bushes at one time) that she provided for tours and weddings. She was a Master Gardener for 20 years.

Survivors include son Gary Lohse of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren, Cindy (Bob) Weise of Camp Hills, Pa., Candy (Al) Mentgen of Beatrice, Cheri (Norm) McConnell of Beatrice, Todd (Fae) Morgan of Grand Island, Tyler (Janet) Morgan of Omaha, Tammy (Jim) Morgan-Bailey of Omaha, Jeff (Nicole) Lohse of Wyoming, and Jay (Joey) Lohse of Las Vegas; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; sister Florene Betten of Aurora, Colorado; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Edwin (1985); daughters and sons in law Joy and Elvin Waltke, Connie and Dick Jensen, and Carolyn Lohse; and 10 brothers and sister.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 9, 2018 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Beatrice with Reverend Timothy Brisbois officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery. The body will lie in state Sunday from noon-8:00 p.m. at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, and at the church one hour preceding the service on Monday. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. Monday at the church. A memorial has been established to the church and the Good Samaritan Center with the funeral home in charge. Sign Norma's online guest book and view her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com.

These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.