A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Norma Jean Hill, 96, of Spencer and formerly of Sioux Rapids, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, at Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. Pastor David Matthews will officiate. Burial will be at Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com
Norma was born Aug. 24, 1928, at Cherokee the daughter of Martin and Mildred (Miler) Wittmaack. As an infant she was baptized in the Christian faith on Sept. 23, 1928, and later renewed those vows in the rites of confirmation on July 5, 1942, both at Trinity Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Cherokee. She was a lifetime member of LCMS. She received her early education at Afton #4 country school near Cherokee, Aurelia and Alta schools. On April 8, 1995, Norma received her GED through Iowa Central Community College, which she was so proud to complete her education.
On Nov. 25, 1947, she was united in marriage to Marvin (Mike) Milo Hill in Storm Lake. They were blessed with three children: Randall, Sandra and Darcy. She made her home in the Sioux Rapids area most of her life.
Norma enjoyed her family, friends, gardening, canning produce, flowers, enjoyed all music — especially polka — and playing solitaire on her computer in the evenings. She did housework for several families over the years; candled eggs at Cherokee, Aurelia, Storm Lake and Sioux Rapids; supervisor for bean walking crew with her children and nephews; church janitor; manufacturing industries — Sundholm of Albert City, Superior and Eaton’s in Spencer. After retiring in 1993, Norma went back to work for Experience Works which eventually gave her the opportunity to work as part-time library assistant at Sioux Rapids Memorial Library.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Virgil and Vernon Wittmaack; one son, Randall Hill; brother-in-law Melvin Friedrich; and special friend, Harold Simonson.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Sandra (Rick) Nelson and son, Darcy Hill all of Sioux Rapids; one daughter-in-law, Sue Hill of Sanger, Texas; grandchildren: Jeremy (Melody Shepard) Nelson of Lake View; Dan Nelson of Spirit Lake; Zach (Robin) Hill of Denton, Texas; great-grandchildren: Jaidon Edwards of Fort Dodge; Cameron Nelson of Wall Lake; Wyatt and Ty Hill of Denton, Texas; her sister Phyllis Friedrich of Algona; two sister-in-laws, Myrtle (Marion) Blasdel of Topeka, Kan. and Ileen Wittmaack of Sioux Rapids; as well as many other nieces, nephews and friends.
