Norma Jean Buschman was born February 17,1935 in Ulysses Kansas to Margaret (Penner) Bushman and Ernest Bushman who both Came from Oklahoma, as the second of three children. She grew up with her older Brother Kenneth and her younger sister Janice in a loving Christian home and eventually the family made its way to the Fresno California area. She graduated from Central Union High in Fresno and attended Pacific Bible institute in Fresno. She was married and divorced and came to visit her Brother and sister in law who were working in Lustre Montana the summer of 1961. She had been receiving information from them about a handsome divorced cowboy named Harold with a young daughter named Karyl through the match making perseverance of Karyl’s maternal grandmother Luella Koslowsky who proceeded to make sure the two met almost immediately upon her arrival in Lustre. She had driven three days to get there and arrived at 11:00 pm on June 3rd. On June 12th Harold proposed at Bridge Park and gave her an engagement ring. They were married in California in Norma’s maternal Grandmother Penners backyard on August 18th 1961. Norma stated her Grandmother Penner had been praying she would find a good man for a husband.
They returned to Wolf Point with her things loaded in a Pick up Topper Harold had made for this purpose and set up housekeeping, Ranching, keeping milk cows, Farming, and Harold was still building houses.
It was a very busy life, and Gospel Fellowship church was always a central part of it. Norma Served on the Board of Christian Women’s Club, she was involved with Sunday school, and DVBS many years as well as AWANA. She enjoyed going to women’s retreats such as Medora, and participated in the Ladies Aide in the early years of Gospel Fellowship.
Norma became an excellent cook and baker and had an extensive garden that she canned and froze produce from and in later years participated in farmers market. She collected an extensive collection of cook books and always had the newest cooking gadgets. Harold bought her one of the first microwaves.
She was an accomplished seamstress. She had no family in Montana however and it was expensive to make phone calls so contact with her family over the years in California was through letters for the most part. In 1997 her cousin Donna from California came to visit her, and met and married David Pankratz which then gave her some family in the area. Donna and David became like family to Norma and she doted on their four children like they were her own. Then in 2000 Karyl and her two girls moved back to the area and she had a bounty of grandchildren to be occupied with.
Over the next years she spent many hours attending school functions and games for her granddaughter’s and watching their performances in Church programs and music. This gave her great pleasure and she was especially proud of them both graduating from Lustre Christian High School , and going on to attend Millar College of the Bible In Pambrun Saskatchewan.
Harold passed away suddenly in July 2011 a couple weeks short of their 50thwedding anniversary. This left a huge void for her. The subsequent November she made a trip to California for a family reunion with Karyl, Geneva and Michaeline and this was a huge highlight for her. In April 2014 she suffered a heart attack and was resuscitated in the OR in Billings as part of the resulting treatment. She was not happy about being resuscitated and felt she could have gone to be with Harold in heaven at the time. She was in CCU/ICU for ten days and was on a heart pump for a good part of that time, and then recuperated at Aspen Meadows in Billings until she was strong enough to come home. She insisted the farm was her home and spent another year on the farm and then moved to Faith Home in Wolf Point as the damage to her heart took its course. She genuinely enjoyed her time in the home and her care there was excellent, but her heart was growing weaker and her ability to do things waned as her desire to go home to her Father in heaven and her husband grew. On September 17th at 2:20 in the afternoon as she napped her prayers were answered and she slipped peacefully into heaven and the open arms of Jesus.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother and grandfather Penner, and her Parents Ernest and Margaret Bushman, and her sister Janice. She is survived by her Brother Kenneth Bushman,(Jodell) and her daughter Karyl Rauch, and granddaughters Michaeline Franson (James) (of Moose Jaw, Canada,) and Geneva Rauch-Matthews (of Billings, Montana) and many nieces and nephews and cousins and her very special friends and cousins Donna and David Pankratz, and Levi, Mark, Judy and Diane Pankratz.
Memorials May be given to Lustre Christian High School, 4 Lustre High Cir., Lustre, Montana 59225 lustrechristian.org.
Service Schedule
Visitation
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Wednesday September 26, 2018
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Service Schedule
Visitation
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday September 25, 2018
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Wednesday September 26, 2018
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Marilyn Hilkemann says
Dear Karyl & family,
I am saddened that Norma passed away, but know that she is with the Lord, no longer struggling to breathe or get around, or saying “I can’t hear you.” I will miss her. I am praying for you, for comfort and wisdom in decisions to be made.
Love in Christ,
Marilyn
Connie Dahl says
My prayers with all of you. I will miss Norma. Remember Luke 20:38.
L. Foster says
My deepest condolences to the friends and family of Norma. We will never get used to losing our love ones in death. The reason is because we were created with everlasting life in view. (Ecclesiastes 3: 11) To learn more, please visit jw.org and view the faith strengthening Video: What is the condition of the Dead. 1
Joyce (Jackley} Baer says
For many years Harold and Norma lived across the street from me on Dayton. They were wonderful neighbors, (as were all back in those days). I even remember when they lived in the basement because the upstairs had not been built yet. The love of Christ was evident in Norma for all the years I knew her. I’m sure she prayed for my salvation many times. Thank you, Norma. I am born again and someday will see you and Harold again. My prayers for peace and comfort during this time.
Tammy Bartel says
I’m sorry for your loss, Karyl, but I’m grateful that Norma has been set free from her ailments. The assurance that she’s at home with her Savior is such a blessing in spite of the sadness of her physical absence. Norma was weary of her struggles, but she knew where she was going. I pray that you encounter God’s closeness like never before as you move through your grief. May He grant a special measure of wisdom as you encounter decisions in the days ahead.
As ever,
Tammy
Carla and Roger Hunsley says
Norma was my first boss. Then in later years I was her boss. Norma was a very special lady and I had so much respect for her. My deepest sympathy to you Karyl and her Grandchildren.
Pauline Azure-Feuvray says
Karyl and family, Sorry to hear of your step mom’s passing but now she is rejoicing with your dad. I remember you working at the Triangle café in Wolf Point. God bless you all.
Sharon Azure says
Karyl and family,
Memories remain in our hearts and we rejoice to know are families are together with our Father in Heaven. May you have comfort knowing you are in our prayers.
Sharon Azure says
Karyl and family,
Memories remain in our hearts and we rejoice to know are families are together with our Father in Heaven. You are in our prayers.
Dale S says
I will see you & Harold: ” Over there” God’s blessings to the family. Dale S