Norma Groff

Norma Maxine Groff, 89 years, formerly of Hershey, NE, passed away at the Golden Living Center in Cozad, NE, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Norma was born March 13, 1926, to Shirlee Roy and Burtus Faye Barton at Brownville, NE where she grew up and attended school through junior high. She graduated from Peru High School in 1944 and waited tables at Peru College while in high school. Norma married Leland Blankenship and her children, Butch and Linda, were born. They later divorced. On May 18, 1964, Norma married Ralph Henry Groff in Mexico. They lived in Auburn, NE until 1972 when they moved to Hershey, NE. Norma worked in the office at North Platte High School and later was employed by Security International out of Omaha, and worked as a security guard at the Gerald Gentleman Station for six years. She then worked at the North Platte Animal Shelter. Norma was a proud supporter of 4-H, working with the organization in Nemaha County and North Platte for over 20 years. She is survived by her children, Bonnie Groff (special friend, Robert Irwin), of North Platte, Linda (Jeff) Huey, of Omaha, NE, and Leland 'Butch' Blankenship, of Onawa, IA; six grandchildren, David Sims, Ann Sims, Chris Sims, Kary Blankenship, J.C. (Hannah) Kleewein and Kylin (Casey) Lundvall; eight great-grandchildren, Austin, Jared, Trey and Brenden Sims, Jagger, Cannon and Marlow Kleewein, and Talis Lundvall; and other family. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; parents, Shirlee and Burtus Barton; two brothers, Roy and Burl Barton; her sister, Darlene Quinn; and daughter-in-law, Elaine Blankenship. Graveside funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2015, in the Riverside Cemetery northwest of Hershey with Pastor Jeremy Rinke of Harvest Christian Fellowship officiating. The family has established a memorial. The memorial book may be signed at the graveside and condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.