Norma Enola Whitehall

1920 - 2025

Norma Enola (Whitman) Whitehall
January 17, 1920 - March 4, 2025
Norma Enola (Whitman) Whitehall passed away peacefully at home on March 4th, 2025. She was 105 years old.
Norma was born in a blizzard on January 17th, at the home of her parents, Mark and Nina Whitman. She had three brothers: Robert (Bob), Chester (Chet), and Gilbert (Gib).
Early childhood included attending a one-room schoolhouse with her brothers, fishing on the Platte River, and playing on the Oregon Trail. Most fun were horse and buggy rides to town (3 miles) that took all day. Sometimes those trips included going to the theatre to watch "silent" movies.
Norma recalled helping her mother "put up food" for harsh winters and stocking the storm cellar for cyclones. She learned to make sausage, grind coffee beans, churn butter, and dry foods. This "Farm to Table" style led to Norma's lifelong, self-study of food and nutrition and 105 years of good health. She created many original recipes and a cooking style that could not be copied. Her apple pie, breads, cakes, cookies, and "Solomongrandi" will be missed.
The family left Nebraska in 1927 and headed for the Wenatchee Valley in a new Chevrolet Touring Car and Model T Ford Truck. Norma described it as the most exciting adventure of her life. They stopped at Stein's Hill in Cashmere, WA to view the beautiful mountains and river. Norma, age seven, did not realize then, that she was viewing where most of the rest of her life would happen.
Norma married Walter Whitehall on July 3rd, 1936. They had three sons: Philip, Mark, and Gilbert. They bought their fruit farm at Hay Canyon in Cashmere in 1962. In addition to running the farm, Norma worked at Fruit Growers in Monitor, where she made many friends.
Norma had nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She also had many special nieces and nephews. She cherished the many cards, letters, and visits from all those she loved.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, two sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, several cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
She is survived by her son, Gilbert Whitehall, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, six nieces, and one nephew.
At her request, there will be no service. Donations can be made to Hospice.