Norma Margretta DeButtler Swenson, 95, passed away on November 24, 2015, at her home in Hettinger, ND.

Norma was born on May 11, 1920, in Lemmon SD. Her parents, Margaret (Brurok) and Chris DeButtler each homesteaded in Adams County, so Norma grew up as a child of the prairie. An only child, Norma always enjoyed spending time with her cousins at family gatherings. She attended Spring Butte and Cedar Butte country schools and graduated in 1937 from Lemmon High School. After graduation, she attended Capitol Commercial College in Bismarck, and was then hired to work for the Adams County AAA.

While working at the Courthouse, Norma met Oscar F. Swenson. They were married in Evansville, MN on January 2, 1942. After Oscar served in the Army, they moved back to Cedar Butte Township to the farm where Norma grew up. For the next forty years, they farmed together and raised five children.

Norma was a member of the Spring Butte Homemakers club for over forty years, active in Ladies Aid, served in the Lutheran church circles, helped with her children's 4-H, and was clerk for the Cedar Butte School. She sewed clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren, quilts for her grandkids, and many, many quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and was faithful in all things.

Norma loved to travel and had been to 49 states and to her father's and father-in-law's birthplaces in Norway and Sweden. She and Oscar retired to Hettinger in 1985, and Oscar passed away on Dec. 25, 1996. Norma was one of the first residents to move in to Western Horizons and happily lived there for the last 18 years. She remained active in Homemakers, Circle, church and Bible studies, and was always ready to play cards. At her 94th birthday party, she received an Ipad which she loved using to keep in touch with her family and friends through email and facebook.

Survivors include her children: Karen (Gary) Gabrielson, Colorado Springs, CO; Orven (Deb) Swenson, Fargo, ND; Carol (Bill) Melby, Helena, MT; Orval (Renee) Swenson, Grand Forks, ND; and Twila (Mark) Zidon, Platteville, WI; grandchildren: Signe, Geir, Erik, Kristin, Tanya, Tara (Danny), Tamara, Nathan (Stella), Melissa, Karina, Kristen, Rachel, Hannah; great grandchildren: Tobias, Cedar, Wilder, Oliver, Madison; and cousins, nieces and nephews who were very special to her.

The family extends thanks to the staff at Western Horizons for their care and compassion.

Services will be held at 10:30am, Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. Pastor Kathleen Dettmann will officiate with burial in the Hettinger Cemetery. A Family Service will be held at 7:00pm on Monday evening at the Centennial Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger.

Visitation will be on Monday from 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Centennial Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and on Tuesday one hour prior to services at the church.

Serving as casketbearers are Norma's grandchildren.

A memorial has been established to Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, Hettinger Lutheran Church or West River Regional Medical Center.