Norma A. Verch

Obituary

Norma Ann Verch was born on November 19, 1937, outside of Jordan, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Ernest and Clara (Trost) Holste. Norma was baptized as an infant on December 12, 1937, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jordan, Minnesota, and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth on March 22, 1951, by W.P. Kramer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America, Minnesota. Her confirmation verse was Psalm 27:1 Norma attended grade school at St. John’s Lutheran School in Norwood Young America and after Central High School in Norwood Young America and graduated in 1955. Norma went on to college at Mankato State and then Concordia College, St. Paul, for a teaching degree.

On June 27, 1959, Norma was united in marriage to Duane Paul Verch at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America, Minnesota.  Norma and Duane made their home in Norwood Young America.  Their marriage was blessed with three children, Christine, Dean, and Jonathan.  Norma and Duane shared over 61 years of marriage when he passed away on May 30, 2021.

Norma went on to work teaching for 10 years at Good Thunder (1957-1958), Zion Mayer (1958-1960), Zion Cologne (1960-1965), and St. John’s Norwood Young America (1965-1969). In 1973, they purchased the Furniture and Floor Covering Store in Norwood and named it Verch’s Furniture.  In 1979, they moved the business to a new building on Hwy 212, also in Norwood. Norma would be a salesperson in the store, and Duane would install the floor covering. They operated the store until 1991 when they retired and sold the building.

Norma was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America. She was involved with LWML, Bible Classes, Card Club, and earlier on St. John’s Choir.

Family, faith, and friendship were very important to Norma. She looked forward to the holidays, surrounding herself with loved ones.  She had a special relationship with her sister Verna and looked forward to their daily phone calls. Norma enjoyed baking, cooking, flowers, and gardening. She would entertain a game with anyone joining her, be it dominoes, rummy, chase the ace, or even a game of bags.  She was an avid traveler and was able to go to such places as Germany, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and many states in the U.S. You could find her in the summers at her happy place, their cabin in Annandale on the boathouse reading a book and listening to the loons.

Norma passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, at the age of 87 years. Blessed be her memory.

Norma is survived by her:
Children, Dean Verch and his wife, Paula of Glencoe, MN, Jonathan Verch and his wife, Deb of Deerfield, WI;
Grandchildren, Stacia Boyum and her husband Ty, Karissa Dols, Mitchell Dols, Brandon Verch and his wife, Kelsey, Hannah Verch and her fiancé, Joey Cullen;
Great-grandchildren, Emmett and Olivia Boyum;
Sister, Verna Fritz;
Sister-in-law, Mary Verch;
Nephews, nieces, other relatives, and many friends.

Norma was preceded in death by her Parents, Ernest and Clara Holste; Husband, Duane Verch; Daughter, Christine Dols and her husband, Tim; Siblings, Helen Eickelberg and her husband, Ike, Don Holste and his wife, Eunice, Betty Rudolph and her husband, John; Sisters-in-law and Brothers-in-law,  Virgil Verch and his wife, Marlys, Ronald Fritz, Elroy Verch, Clifford Harmsen and his wife, Clarice.