Norma Francis Weerts

NORMA FRANCIS WEERTS Norma Francis Weerts, 91 of Newton, Kansas, passed away on Friday, November 7th at Paramount Community Living and Rehab in Newton, Kansas.  She was born on June 9th,1934, to George and Gladys Leone Olson of Morristown, S.D, the fifth of 6 girls. She grew up on a farm south of Morristown. When she was 14, her mother passed away, and two of her siblings and she went to live with a family friend, Helen Sutton, because her dad had 6 girls to raise; he needed help, so 3 of the older girls stayed with him to help on the farm.  She married Ralph Weerts on July 29th, 1952, after a short courtship in McIntosh, S.D. In January of 1953, they came to Newton, Kansas, because he heard about better jobs in Wichita and Newton. In March, they welcomed the first of 5 children-Martha, in March, then in 1954 Patricia was born, and in 1959 came Cindy, in 1960 a son was born-Randy, then in 1962 the last of five, Kimberly. They did move a few times before settling at 406 E. 6th, living there for 66 years.  Norma enjoyed traveling to different places. She loved going camping in their R.V., whatever it was, from a topper over a bed of the truck bed, a slide-in camper, or a class C motorhome. She enjoyed holidays with her family and extended family, by having Easter Egg hunts either outside in their yard or, if it's raining, inside. On Halloween, she would dress up as an old lady with a wig and mask, then would go sit on the porch and hand out the candy. For Thanksgiving, everyone would contribute something for the meal, and on Christmas Eve, everyone would gather at their house and open presents. She enjoyed watching them, and we would enjoy watching them open theirs.  There were a few years they would travel to Arizona in their motorhome to spend winter where Ralph's sisters were for up to 3 months. Norma is survived by her 2 daughters-Martha (Rodney Jack) Kasper, Cindy Casey, all from Newton, a son Randy (Janet) Weerts of Towanda; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph, 2 daughters, Patricia and Kimberly, five sisters, Gladys Wolfe, Harriet Cockerham, Ella Mae Hausauer, Mavis Clark, and Mary Alice Meyer, and her brothers-in-law. Visitation will be on November 17th, 6-9 pm at Peterson's Funeral Home, 215 N. Main in Newton. The service is at 10 a.m. on November 18th at 1st United Methodist Church, 801 N. Main in Newton. A graveside service will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kansas, 1100 E. 1st, Newton, Kansas