Obituary of Norma Jean Veldboom

    Norma Jean (Miller) Veldboom, second daughter of Frank Raymond “Ray” and Ivah Marie (De La Mater) Miller, was born July 21, 1939, on the family farm near Sheldon, IA. She began attending country school at the age of four, with her mother as the teacher. As a young girl, Norma and her family moved to Bonesteel, SD where her father helped electrify rural South Dakota and opened the Miller Electric Store selling electric appliances. She always had wonderful memories of their times in South Dakota. Eventually, the family moved back to Sheldon where she completed her high school education, graduating in 1957.

    As a teenager, Norma was employed at the local ice cream drive-in. A young man named Glenn, noticed her walking to work and offered her a ride. They fell in love and were united in marriage on June 22, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Sheldon. At first they lived on an acreage one mile south of Glenn’s home farm north of Hartley, IA. In 1958, they moved to the family farm where Glenn had grown up; being blessed with three children:  Randal, Tamra, and Lance.

    Norma worked on the farm alongside Glenn. She was known for her large gardens, canning the produce she raised throughout the summers. She had a love for animals and strays that happened upon the farm. Norma also enjoyed camping and traveling with Glenn, and just spending time with her children and grandchildren. They were active members of Farm Bureau and the Republican Party. Once her last child was in college, Norma began working off the farm as a nurses’ aid at Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn, IA. She then enjoyed many years driving school bus for Area 4 special needs students. 

    In 1994, Glenn and Norma retired from farming and moved to Hartley. During their retirement, they spent almost 20 summers living in their camper and volunteering at Cutty’s Resort at Lake Okoboji - entertaining their grandkids and teaching many of them to ride bike at Cutty’s. They also took many trips around America, visiting all 50 states with Hawaii and Alaska being highlights.

    Norma had a great faith in her Lord and Savior. She once shared that for many years she thought she was a Christian because of her church attendance, but that “the Lord directed my path and showed me that the only way to be a real Christian and have eternal life was to accept Christ as my personal Savior.” Together, Glenn and Norma were obedient and followed the Lord in believer’s baptism in 1972. They were members of Central Avenue Baptist Church in Hartley until it closed in 2006, then joined Maple Grove Church near Peterson, IA. When Norma moved to Grinnell, IA in 2017 after Glenn’s passing, she worshipped at Calvary Baptist.

    While Norma’s memory continued to fail her, she could still remember the words to scripture verses and sing along with favorite hymns. In her last years she was well cared for at Mayflower Health Center in Grinnell where on May 1, 2024, she peacefully entered Glory surrounded by her children.

    Norma is survived by her children: Randy (Linda) Veldboom of New London, Iowa; Tami (Greg) Hannestad of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Lance (Megan) Veldboom of Grinnell, Iowa; nine beloved grandchildren: Jennifer Veldboom, Ryan (Mollie) Veldboom, Austin (Shannon) Veldboom, Sean (Rachel) MacDonald, Ian MacDonald, Elizabeth (Nathan) Brace, Emmaleah (Tanner) Beam, Naomi Veldboom, and Rebekah Veldboom; six great-grandchildren: Annaka Veldboom, Kemper Veldboom, Isaac and Eliza Joy Brace, Holden Veldboom, Alden MacDonald, and Jonathan Beam; one great-great-grandchild, Lenyx Urias. She also is survived by brother-in-law, Gene Krier; other relatives and friends.

    Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, in 2014; her parents; her sister, Darlene Tatsumi Krier; and brother-in-law, Harold Tatsumi.

    Norma enjoyed life, she loved God, and was devoted to her family and especially all her work in genealogy, becoming a bridge from the past to the future. She will be dearly missed in this life and we look forward to being reunited with her on heaven’s shore.