Date of Birth:
Friday, September 5, 1919
Date of Death:
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Age:
94 years old

Norma A. Shaffer

Memorial services for Norma A. Shaffer of Rochester,

formerly of Pipestone MN, will be held Thursday May 1, 11 a.m.,

at the First Presbyterian Church in Rochester and Saturday May

17, 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone. Lunch

and visiting will follow the services.

Norma Leah Ammann Shaffer, 94, died April 17, 2014, in

Rochester, MN. She was born September 5, 1919 to Frieda

(Schneider) and Henry Ammann in Neptune, NJ. She graduated

from Asbury Park, NJ High School in 1937 and worked in New

York City as a governess. She applied to three universities and

rode a bus across country to enroll in the University of Minnesota,

sight unseen.

Norma worked her way through college and participated in

the YWCA and Wesley Foundation. She earned her B.S. in food

and nutrition science in 1941. After graduation, she worked at

Betty Crocker Kitchens in Minneapolis.

On December 18, 1942, she and Harold K. Shaffer were

united in marriage by Rev. Henry Lewis at Lake Harriet Methodist

Church in Minneapolis. The couple worked with Harold’s parents

on the Shaffer family farm during World War II, then returned to

the University. Harold earned his B.S. in 1946 and Norma earned

her M.S. in 1947.

The couple lived in Owatonna, MN, for a year before settling

on the Shaffer family farm in Troy Township near Pipestone, MN

in 1948. They were dairy farmers.

Norma was active in the Presbyterian Church and the

community. She was an ordained elder, and often served on the

session (church board). She was a leader in the presbytery

(district) and synod (region) working for the equality of women

and men in the church. She was a delegate to the church’s

General Assembly (national meeting) in 1967. After Norma and

Harold retired, they enjoyed attending Synod School at Grinnell

and Buena Vista Colleges in Iowa.

Norma advocated for education and life-long learning. She

served as a member of the Pipestone School Board for 18 years,

and was instrumental in creating the joint school/public library in

Pipestone. Norma was a member of PEO and the Current Events

Club in Pipestone. She was a Girl Scout leader before she had

children. She and Harold were 4-H and Rural Youth Club Leaders.

She enjoyed baking, photography, reading and writing.

Norma and Harold enjoyed hosting foreign exchange

students and extended family members over the years. They

traveled to Scandinavia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Australia

and New Zealand in their retirement.

Norma is survived by son Kim (Jan) of Blue Earth, MN,

daughter Carol (Otis Laurberg) of Rochester, MN, daughter Judy

(Paul) Ruud of Fairfax Station, VA, eight grandchildren, three

great-grandchildren, her sister Marie Eberhardt of Mendham, NJ,

and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by

her parents, her husband, Harold, her sister Ruth Howland and

brother Ernest Ammann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First

Presbyterian Church of Pipestone or Seasons Hospice of

Rochester.

Norma donated her body to the Mayo Clinic. A graveside

service will be held at a later date.