Obit: Behling, Norma E. (1922 - 2009) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  
 

Surnames: Behling, Sullivan, Jensen, Nordman, Jordan,  Hanutke, Allman, Dudevick, Usarek, Leigh, Scheppa, Heinzl, Gallatin, Shoemaker, Jacobson, Reshel, Zieher 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) July 29, 2009 
 

Behling, Norma E. (5 October 1922 - 21 July 2009) 
 

Norma E. Behling, 86, of City Point died Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville. 
 

She was born Oct. 5, 1922 in Wisconsin Rapids, the daughter of Herbert and Edith (Sullivan) Jensen.  Norma received her education at City Point School and graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids in 1941.  She married Everett R. Nordman Nov. 2, 1946.  He died June 22, 1972.  She married Milton Behling March 20, 1976.  He died Dec. 27, 2004. 
 

Her various employment included moving to Milwaukee and working as a crane operator for three years and then returning home and working on her father’s marsh.  She was also a caterer for City Point Senior Citizen’s meals for 10 years, worked at Cutler Cranberry Marsh and at Little Bear Café from 1987 to 1997. 
 

Norma is survived by her children, Nancy Jordan of Wisconsin Rapids, Dale (Thomas) Hanutke of City Point, Kathy Allman of Reno, NV, Marilynn (Jim) Dudevick of West Bend, Linda (Brian) Usarek of City Point, Patty (Jim) Leigh of Pittsville, Marlene (Ron) Scheppa of Port Edwards, Darlene (Gary) Heinzl of Oshkosh, Marjorie (Warren) Gallatin of Spencer, Richard E. Nordman, Herbert E. Nordman, both of City Point, Michael (Angela) Nordman, of Germany, Jacob (Patty) Nordman, of Neillsville and John Nordman of Reno, NV; 32 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one stepson, Russell (Sandy) Behling of Medford; one sister, Doris Shoemaker of Pittsville; and one brother-in-law, Laverne Jacobson of City Point. 
 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; three sisters, Lois Reshel, Joy Zieher and Margie Jacobson; one brother, Orman Jensen; one son-in-law, Augie Jordan; two granddaughters; and two great-grandsons. 
 

Cremation with a private committal will take place at a later date with burial at City Point Cemetery. 
 

Buchanan Funeral Home of Pittsville assisted the family with arrangements. 
 

Written by Nancy Jordan (oldest daughter): 
 

Our Mom led a simple life; I’m sure it wasn’t easy outliving two husbands and raising 14 children, but she always did the best that she could.  
 

Mom was a great cook from early on. We learned that the best baked beans didn’t come out of a can.  It was the bag of great northern pinto beans that turned into the best baked beans around.  Everyone thought so too, because whenever anyone needed a dish to pass, it was her beans that they asked for. The house always smelled of homemade bread, buns and cinnamon rolls in our younger days out of necessity. Later, she just made her many favorites of bread and cinnamon rolls and froze them, so when grandchildren came over she could always send home special treats for them. 
 

Mom had a green thumb, whether it be vegetable garden, fruit trees or potted plants that came to life under her care.  Not many people had Christmas cactus bloom all year. 
 

She took great pride in her Christmas village and loved to display it every year for all to see. 
 

She spent a lot of time crocheting afghans for her children and grandchildren.  She even was working on one for her grandchild in the hospital whenever she had a good day. 
 

Mom loved her birds, and at one time she was nick-named "Bird Lady of City Point."  She raised dozens of parakeets, finches and canaries for sale at various pet stores. 
 

The Marshfield paper did an article on her at one time and all her feathered friends. She still at times of her illness found comfort in her birds and watching her various kinds of fish in her aquarium and being with her constant companion "Buster."  
 

As I said before, Mom’s life was simple, but she met every obstacle in life with great courage and strength and was that way right to the end, and hopefully, some of that has spilled over to her children and grandchildren. 
 

Mom, we will miss you and we love you. 
 

Our family wishes to thank the doctor and nurses at Neillsville’s Health and Rehab Center for the wonderful care of our mother.  We know you took great care to make sure her last days were as comfortable as possible.  God Bless all of you.  Thank you to Ministry Home Care Hospice for your special care.  A special thanks to our sister-in-law Patti who was more like a sister to all of us and took such great care of MOM.  We love you.