Norma Mae Gatterman passed away on November 5, 2020 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned. She was born July 6, 1925 at Lewis, the daughter of W.R. “Ray” and Iva (Jarvis) McClaren.
Norma graduated from Lewis High School in 1943, and attended Fort Hays Kansas State College for 2 years. She was introduced to Thoran Gatterman in the summer of 1942 by a mutual friend. He left for college at Kansas State in the fall, and they corresponded until reuniting at Christmas. Thoran was called to active duty in World War II in February of 1943 and was station in England. After the war, they married in Lewis on April 21, 1946, and started their farming operation. To that union two sons were born. On January 2, 1967, Thoran died after a long battle with cancer.
Norma is survived by her sons Bryan Gale (Maureen) Gatterman and Bruce Thoran Gatterman; three grandchildren, Lindsay (Mitch) Walter, Anthony “Tony” (Misha) Gatterman, and Christina Gatterman; four great grandsons, Cal, Davis, and Archie Walter, and Beau Gatterman; a niece, Chari Shoemake; newphews Gary Boldt, David Cross, and Robert Cross; numerous cousins, and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her beloved daughter-in-law Ann Gatterman, her sister Dorothy Boldt, her brother Melvin “Buddy” McClaren, and an infant sister.
Norma had vivid memories and shared stories about the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, farming with her father in Ulysses, Kansas in those years, and World War II. She farmed with her husband, was a homemaker, and later worked in Lewis as an office clerk at Cross Manufacturing until her retirement. Norma lived in Lewis until moving to Larned in 2009, where she lived independently until her health began failing in 2016. She then became a resident of Country Place Senior Living until the time of her death.
At Lewis, she was a member of the Lewis United Methodist Church, Women’s Society of Christian Service, an extension unit, Northside Coffee Club, and several bridge clubs. She was a proud member of the President’s Club of the Kansas State University Ahearn Fund. She attended church at the Larned United Methodist Church.
Her best times were with her husband, family, and friends, attending music and athletic events of her children and grandchildren, cooking, enjoying the companionship of her dogs, and traveling to and attending KSU football and basketball games. In her later years she was a faithful television viewer of all sports, but especially the Wildcats, Royals, and Chiefs.
Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Lewis United Methodist Church, Lewis, with Pastor Bill Stapleton and Pastor Melissa Naylor presiding, service will be viewable via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2020 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, with family present from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Inurnment in Wayne Cemetery, Lewis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Lewis United Methodist Church, Larned United Methodist Church, Pawnee County Humane Society, or Country Place Senior Living in Larned, all in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.