Norma Jean Sothman

NORMA JEAN SOTHMAN

Norma Jean Sothman, 83, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

Norma Jean Christensen was born December 22, 1928 in Pottawattamie County to J. Chris and Christena Gustafsen (Pedersen) Christensen. The family moved west of Atlantic when Norma Jean was two months old. She was raised in the Atlantic area and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1946.

Norma Jean worked at the telephone office until she was married to Kermit Sothman on August 22, 1948 at the Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Atlantic. The couple moved to a farm three miles east and one half mile south near Lyman where they became members of St. John’s United Church of Christ. She was active in Sunday School as a teacher and superintendent, officer of Women’s Fellowship, a 4-H leader, was involved in the Bloodmobile, and was very active with the Cass County Hospital Auxiliary having served more than 11,000 hours. Norma Jean enjoyed family, friends and quilting. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and attended as many of their activities as she could.

She is survived by her children, Karen Gholson and her husband, Terry of Grimes, Delores Sothman of Des Moines and Rodney and his wife Malena Sothman of Cumberland; five grandchildren, Zeb and Taryn Gholson, Malakai, Tierney and Teaguen Sothman; two brothers, Clifford Christensen and his wife, Mary Ann of Atlantic, Howard Christensen and his wife, Verla of Fountain Hills, AZ; sisters-in-law, Aletha Sanny of Anderson, MO, Alberta Becker and her husband, John of Cumberland and Janet Thompson and her husband, Don of Park City, KS.

Norma Jean is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Kermit; her half brothers and sister-in-law, Ivan and Winifred Pedersen; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Art and Berdele Petersen, Orlin and Lori Sothman, Merle and Arlene Riepe, Lloyd Sanny, Don Ridlen, Luella Costello, and Lynn and Marcella Costello.

Her family will meet with friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, April 25 at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Open visitation will run from 8:00 to 5:30 daily until Thursday, April 26, at which time Norma Jean’s funeral will be held at the St. John’s United Church of Christ near Lyman at 10:30 A.M. Pastor Celeste Waymire will officiate. Following the service, the committal will take place in the Weirich Cemetery southeast of Lyman.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Norma Jean’s family and the arrangements. Condolences may be left in her guest book at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.