Norma LaVonne (Olsen) Schlater was born on January 27, 1927, in Hamlin, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Marie (Rattenborg) Olsen. Norma entered into eternal rest on Tuesday morning, July 19, 2011 at the Goldenrod Care Center in Clarinda, Iowa at the blessed age of 84 years.
Norma was baptized and confirmed at the Hamlin Lutheran Church. She attended grade school at Hamlin Number 2 and graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1944. Following graduation she went to work as a secretary for Carlson Hybrid Corn Company.
On January 27, 1945 she was united in marriage to Richard Schlater at the Hamlin Lutheran Church by Rev. H.L. Jensen. The couple farmed near Viola Center and west of Hamlin. In 1947 they moved to Brayton where they worked at Brayton Products. They purchased and operated a gas station in Brayton for 12 years. Norma also served as Brayton's town Treasurer for 12 years.
Norma was a member of Oak Hill Lutheran Church and Brayton Lutheran Church. She was active in the ladies group, church activities and taught Sunday School. The couple later moved to Denison where they were employed at Johnson Motors, then to Exira where they worked for Finnerty Oil and Larsen Ford. Their final move was to Essex, Iowa. The couple joined St. John's Lutheran Church where Norma served on the church board, taught Sunday School, and served in all offices in WELCA. She also formed a quilting group to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief and the needy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard, her son Douglas, brother Donald Olsen, granddaughter Megan Hanner and niece Susan Kay Olsen.
Those left to honor her memory include her two children, Roxanne Nance and husband David of Wellington, KS and Jeffrey Schlater and fianc Jane Thalken of Shenandoah, IA; seven grandchildren, Michele Hanner and husband Joe of Guthrie Center, IA, Melissa Wolber and husband Thomas of Des Moines, IA; Ryan Schlater and wife Tracy of Cambridge, IA, Jan Kessler and husband Allen of Wellington, KS, Amy McDaniel and husband Cameron of Valley Center, KS, JJ Nance and wife Katie of Valley Center, KS and Jarod Nance of Wellington, KS; 11 great-grandchildren Alison Hanner, Matthew Hanner, Carter Wolbers, Calvin Wolbers, Owen Schlater, Trevor Kessler, Trey Kessler, Katelyn Kessler, Lejer McDaniel, Holden McDaniel and Riggs McDaniel; brother Robert Olsen of Carroll, IA; sister -in-law Louise Olsen of Scottsdale, AZ; other family and friends.