Obituary for Norma Anne Byers
Norma Anne Byers, age 101, of Watertown, SD went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Avantara.
Norma was born in Massillon, Ohio to Earl and Lucille Weirich on April 26, 1921. She was a graduate of McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.
Norma worked at Eaton Corporation in Massillon, Ohio following graduation from McKinley High School. She met Paul Hamel at work and they dated for six years. In those days, it was a rule, especially in factories, that relatives or spouses could not both work in the same company which meant Norma had to quit if she wanted to marry Paul. Norma and Paul were married September 1, 1951. Norma was 30 years old; Paul was 40 years old. They had two daughters: Carol Louise, on October 26, 1952; and, Holly Jean on December 25, 1959. Norma enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom until she started to work again at Baltino’s, a frozen food factory in Massillon, Ohio. Norma and Paul were married 24 years prior to Paul’s death on December 15, 1975. He was 64 years old; Norma was 54 years old. Norma went back to work at Baltino’s which later was bought by Ore Ida. Norma worked for Ore Ida until she retired at 63 years of age.
Norma was a widow for 13 years. In 1986, she saw an obituary in the paper for the wife of Walt Byers. She waited two years (she was now 67 years old) and then called him in April of 1988 and said, “Do you know who this is?” It had been so many years and Walt didn’t recognize her voice. However, once Norma told Walt her name, he knew immediately who Norma was. Walt said, “Your birthday is next week (April 26th). How about I take you out for dinner?” Walt remembered Norma’s birthday after all those years! Norma and Walt were high school sweethearts. He went off to serve in the war and when he returned he married his wife and Norma did the same marrying, Paul.
Norma and Walt were married 7 months later on November 25, 1988 by Norma’s son-in-law, Hank Roso. They were both 68 years of age. Norma and Walt were happily married nearly 13 years before Walt went home to be with the Lord on April 17, 2001 at age 80.
In, 2005, Holly and Hank moved Norma to Bradley, Illinois where she lived independently at Bradley Place for 5 years before she was moved to assisted living at Heritage Woods in Manteno, Illinois. When Hank took on a new position as Director of Midwest Bible Camp and Conference Center in his hometown of Watertown, South Dakota, Hank and Holly moved Norma from independent living to Golden Living Center in August 2013, which is now Avantara.
On February 16, 2016, Carol Hamel, Norma’s oldest daughter, lost her battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord.
Norma enjoyed word circle puzzles and more importantly was a news junky, following politics quite closely listening to CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. She voted her entire life and had seen many, many presidents come and go in her lifetime. She watched TV evangelists every Sunday morning.
She enjoyed the camaraderie with the nurses and going out to eat with Hank and Holly.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Paul L. Hamel (1951-1975), second husband, Walter J. Byers (1988-2001), and her oldest daughter, Carol L. Hamel. She is survived by her youngest daughter, Holly J. Roso and son-in-law, Dr. Rev. Hank Roso; and one sister, Patricia Jean Ward, who is nine years younger.
PLEASE NOTE DATE: A memorial service will be held at Midwest Bible Camp on July 5, 2022 at 6 pm followed by a light supper.
Memorials can be sent to Midwest Bible Camp, PO Box 545, Watertown, SD 57201.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Norma was born in Massillon, Ohio to Earl and Lucille Weirich on April 26, 1921. She was a graduate of McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.
Norma worked at Eaton Corporation in Massillon, Ohio following graduation from McKinley High School. She met Paul Hamel at work and they dated for six years. In those days, it was a rule, especially in factories, that relatives or spouses could not both work in the same company which meant Norma had to quit if she wanted to marry Paul. Norma and Paul were married September 1, 1951. Norma was 30 years old; Paul was 40 years old. They had two daughters: Carol Louise, on October 26, 1952; and, Holly Jean on December 25, 1959. Norma enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom until she started to work again at Baltino’s, a frozen food factory in Massillon, Ohio. Norma and Paul were married 24 years prior to Paul’s death on December 15, 1975. He was 64 years old; Norma was 54 years old. Norma went back to work at Baltino’s which later was bought by Ore Ida. Norma worked for Ore Ida until she retired at 63 years of age.
Norma was a widow for 13 years. In 1986, she saw an obituary in the paper for the wife of Walt Byers. She waited two years (she was now 67 years old) and then called him in April of 1988 and said, “Do you know who this is?” It had been so many years and Walt didn’t recognize her voice. However, once Norma told Walt her name, he knew immediately who Norma was. Walt said, “Your birthday is next week (April 26th). How about I take you out for dinner?” Walt remembered Norma’s birthday after all those years! Norma and Walt were high school sweethearts. He went off to serve in the war and when he returned he married his wife and Norma did the same marrying, Paul.
Norma and Walt were married 7 months later on November 25, 1988 by Norma’s son-in-law, Hank Roso. They were both 68 years of age. Norma and Walt were happily married nearly 13 years before Walt went home to be with the Lord on April 17, 2001 at age 80.
In, 2005, Holly and Hank moved Norma to Bradley, Illinois where she lived independently at Bradley Place for 5 years before she was moved to assisted living at Heritage Woods in Manteno, Illinois. When Hank took on a new position as Director of Midwest Bible Camp and Conference Center in his hometown of Watertown, South Dakota, Hank and Holly moved Norma from independent living to Golden Living Center in August 2013, which is now Avantara.
On February 16, 2016, Carol Hamel, Norma’s oldest daughter, lost her battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord.
Norma enjoyed word circle puzzles and more importantly was a news junky, following politics quite closely listening to CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. She voted her entire life and had seen many, many presidents come and go in her lifetime. She watched TV evangelists every Sunday morning.
She enjoyed the camaraderie with the nurses and going out to eat with Hank and Holly.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Paul L. Hamel (1951-1975), second husband, Walter J. Byers (1988-2001), and her oldest daughter, Carol L. Hamel. She is survived by her youngest daughter, Holly J. Roso and son-in-law, Dr. Rev. Hank Roso; and one sister, Patricia Jean Ward, who is nine years younger.
PLEASE NOTE DATE: A memorial service will be held at Midwest Bible Camp on July 5, 2022 at 6 pm followed by a light supper.
Memorials can be sent to Midwest Bible Camp, PO Box 545, Watertown, SD 57201.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.