Norma Jeane (Nickel) Hodge, 96, passed away January 13, 2022, at the Graham County Hospital, Hill City, KS. She was born July 4, 1925, on her grandparents' farm near Axtell, Nebraska in Kearney County to Hans Casper Nickel and Laura Mary (Laue) Nickel.
The youngest child, Jeane was a firecracker. When Jeane was two years old, she fell out of a two story window breaking her leg. She was the extra farm hand when growing up on the family farm six miles south of Kearney, Nebraska. She attended country school and passed her promotion test to enter Kearney High. This is when she changed to her first name, Norma, for there were too many “Jean's”. Norma lived in boarding houses throughout her high school years, and this made her a strong and independent woman. During high school, she earned spending money working at Brown McDonald's and J.C. Penney's. After graduating in 1943, she worked at an air parts factory making parts for the war.
Norma met Warren H. Hodge during this time, and they were united in marriage on March 18, 1944. They spent 42 years together until his death in 1986. Moving to 'God Forsaken Kansas' as her dad always told her, they lived in McPherson and Oberlin, KS before settling in Phillipsburg, KS. To this union four children were born: Norman Dee, Rex Eugene, Lonnie Lee, and Jnell Sue.
Norma was a seamstress and worked out of her home until moving her business to the back room of Dorothy's Fabric store. When PHS girls needed a pep skirt she made it. In 1966, she began working at the Prairie Haven nursing home in Kensington, KS as the administrative assistant where she remained until retirement.
Norma had a sharp mind and amble hands. She loved to dance, knit, crochet, cross stitch, bead nativity ornaments, quilt, play skipbo and work in her flower garden. Just about anything she wanted to do, she did it! She was a member of the Phillipsburg First Christian Church, American Legion Aux. 166, Veterans of Foreign Wars Aux. and Rebekah's.
Education was very important to Norma; she made sure all her children finished high school. All three of her sons served in the military of which she was extremely proud. Finally, Norma's quote about children, “When they're little they step on your toes and when they get older they step on your heart!”
She was preceded in death by her husband Warren and son Rex, her parents, sisters and brother Bernice Murrish, Dietrich Nickel, and Louise Fritz.
Norma is survived by son Norman (Janice) Topeka, KS, daughter-in-law UL Son Hodge, Farmington MN, son Lonnie (Corazon) Norfork, VA and daughter Jnell (Carl) Conkey, Edmond, KS. Grandchildren Christopher, Scott, Timothy, Garran Hodge, James Oliver, Stephanie Howlett, Jaya Hodge, Brooks Hodge, Adam and Ian Conkey, 15 great grandchildren and 1great great grandchild. Brother-in-law Bobbie (Norma) Hodge, Salina, KS. Companion Snowball, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear loving friends.
Cremation was planned. A memorial service will be held at a later date.