Norma Ruth Burke passed away on Feb. 8, 2021 at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke at the age of 80.

Norma was born at the Haxtun Hospital on Colorado Avenue on June 13, 1926. She and her mother, Anna, spent their first 11 days there together. Norma's father, Ben, paid the hospital bill - a total of $50.

Norma grew up south of Schram and north of Yuma. Joined by her brothers Harry and Duane, the Price kids attended the Blach School. Norma and Harry enjoyed playing pranks on the neighbors as they herded their cows in the ditches along the county roads and always helped dad with breaking horses. Norma learned to embroider, crochet, tat and knit. Her mother was left-handed so she used a mirror to make everything right handed for Norma to learn. Norma knit socks for soldiers during WW1. When she and her mother turned in their socks, they received more wool to continue knitting. Norma loved to tat. Bev surprised her mom with a tatting class in Greeley. When the big day came, Norma found herself teaching the instructor and helping all the other students learn. Ben played harmonica for dances and Norma played piano. With permission from her mother, Norma sent to Denver for information on accordions. When the information came, an accordion was also shipped. Ben told Norma if she could learn to play the accordion over the weekend then she could keep it. She spent the weekend north of the house and taught herself how to play. She played for many dances after that, she played for neighbors, friends and five small children while they were growing up. The 1990s found her playing for 90+ children in Green Mountain Falls at Children's Ark where Bev worked. She played for the Haxtun Nursing Home residents and for herself when the mood struck her. She played a small organ in her home when the accordion became too heavy. The five children always liked it best when she played her piano for them, she listened to songs on the radio and then played them, amazing the kids that mom could play all the new songs without the pages. Norma had no lessons and always played by ear.

Norma made toys out of tree branches. She demonstrated these toys and the kids told their friends about them and practiced with green plums as ammunition. She put the family pet hamster in her shirt pocket and worked in the kitchen or ironing, the hamster peeping out of her pocket at us. She made beautiful cinnamon rolls and bread, and wonderful brownies.

Norma played on Marcus Muirheid's traveling women's softball team. She played third base. She loved games and puzzles and kept track of winners on Jeopardy, played along on Wheel of Fortune and could whip anyone in Pitch or Aggravation. Norma bowled on a women's team in Holyoke. She so enjoyed her bowling girl mates and the traveling she got to do to state contests. Norma was an honorary member of Pleasant Valley Quilters. She felt honored to bind their quilts for them and enjoyed all the farm ladies there that she could relate to.

Norma worked for Clark at Yuma Cleaners and did housekeeping and cleaning for the Catholic Church. Bev learned how to iron dad's handkerchiefs watching her mom iron robes for the priest and altar. Norma later worked at a Mountain College in the Student Center as cook, Colorado State University bakery learning how to make 242 dozen long johns for the dorms before the sun came up. Norma worked in the kitchen at Woodard Governor enjoying every opportunity she had to learn and make new friends. Her favorite job was working for the Haxtun Soil District. Norma got to share her knowledge and love of trees with her guys (the District Board) and members of the Soil Conservation Service.

Norma loved doing country chores for the Terry Weaver family. She gathered eggs, fed horses and talked to the dogs and cats. Bev and Gage got to go too, sometimes Chad and Aja. It made Norma happy to be on the farm and taking care of things. She always told horse stories and relived her time on the farm.

Norma continued her love for orchids, hibiscus and all things green into her 94th year. She enjoyed the neighbors' gardening and appreciated when we all shared produce. Norma was a strong woman, came through many hard times, did not know a stranger. She saved plastic bags for the post office for packing boxes, she saved flip tops off of soda cans for other friends who collected them. For the past six years she has cut coupons for the Veterans to spend at the PX because their families can use the outdated coupons there. Norma enjoyed her years with the Haxtun Sewing Club. They met to mend for residents and patients and made clothing protectors.

Norma was one of only three cousins left in her generation. She was the last of her family. She treasured her grandson Chad and great-grandson Gage. The three of them had special times digging potatoes, playing games or watching movies. Norma played catch with Gage when she was in her 80s. She thought she might have to slow down someday. She loved riding with Chad in his semi and felt bad when she couldn't climb in anymore. Norma made quilts for Aja and Gage and was helping Bev with a quilt for Delanie's high school graduation. She had fun showing her great-granddaughters and Kristin the secrets to making pecan rolls. Norma enjoyed visiting with Niki and children from Virginia and Chad and Erin Norton when they were in Fort Collins visiting with parents Bobbi and Dennis Norton.

Graveside services were held on Feb. 20 at Yuma Cemetery per Norma's instructions.