Norma Lewis • 1947 - 2007

Norma Lewis, 60, Velva, died peacefully with her family by her side Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at Trinity Hospital in Minot. She passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

Norma Marie Popham was born on January 11, 1947, the daughter of Lawrence and Minnie (Harney) Popham in Newcastle, WY. She was raised on the Lonetree Ranch in Upton, WY, and graduated from Upton High School in 1965. Norma continued her education at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, graduating with a degree in physical education in 1968. Following her graduation from Black Hills State University, she began her teaching career in Upton, WY.
Norma met her future husband, John Lewis, while teaching in Upton. They were united in marriage July 18, 1972. They made their home in Edgemont, SD for a short time before moving to Velva, ND, in 1973. A couple years later, they bought their first farmstead which was located SE of Velva. Together Norma and John raised their family of four children, Melissa, Randy, Johnna, and Stefanie. She continued her teaching career as well as coaching volleyball. She started the girl's volleyball program in Velva.

In December of 1980, she opened her own childcare center in Velva, called Little Hands Daycare. It was the first daycare in Velva and soon after preschool was added. This became a huge success for her and the community of Velva. She owned and operated the daycare for 13 years until closing its doors in 1993. The Lewis family then moved to Minot, ND, where Norma began working at Central Campus in the resources department. She stayed active by coaching volleyball and track at both the junior high and high school level.

Norma was diagnosed with leukemia in 1997. She spent much of that year at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, undergoing treatment and a bone marrow transplant. Norma then returned to North Dakota and spent much of her time involved with her family and favorite hobbies, such as scrap booking and working outdoors.
She had many accomplishments throughout her life. The most important was raising her family.

Norma will be deeply missed by her husband of 35 years, John, Velva, ND; children, Melissa Myers and her husband, Mike, and their children, Graydon, Gracie and Gabrielle, all of Little Elm, TX; Randy, Bottineau, ND; daughter, Johnna Lewis, Minot; and Stefanie and her partner Robert Norton, Plano, TX; brothers, Rick Popham and his wife, Colleen, Upton, WY; sister, Pauline Hoepfner and her husband Ernie, Beulah, ND. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many beloved pets also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation: Friday, August 31, 2007 from 4-7 at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Velva, ND.

Funeral Service: Saturday, September 1, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Velva, ND.

Burial: Velva Community Cemetery, Velva.

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