Norma Lee (Brown) Stoeger was born in Newport, Nebraska on April 9, 1938, to Jim & Lena Brown. She grew up a typical farm girl and learned to have a work ethic from a young age. She took care of the housework, the neighborhood children, and helped her Dad and siblings with the farm chores.

Norma loved learning and attending Sunday School. She read every Sugar Creek Gang book she could get her hands on. Even as a child, she had a yearning for God. She would lie on the hay bales, watch the clouds, and wonder what God and Heaven were like. She was gifted in music from a very young age.

She married Robert C. Stoeger on December 25, 1955. She was just 17 at the time. This union was blessed with six children. Bob and Norma were instrumental in the founding of the Berean Bible Church in Valentine. She served the Lord faithfully as a student of Scripture and in humble prayer. Norma put on the full armor of God as stated in Ephesians 6.

Throughout her life, Norma had numerous jobs. Some of these included running a daycare out of her home, cleaning houses, waitressing, and cooking at VES. Later in her life, she studied for and then completed her GED. She continued to read and study various topics throughout her lifetime. She especially loved Biblical history.

Norma loved her family deeply. She prepared lovely meals, and the tradition of soup on Christmas Eve is a fond memory for her children and grandchildren. Bob and Norma set a loving example of a Christ-centered marriage. Through joy and pain, they were married for 58 years.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Lena Brown, her husband, Robert Stoeger Sr., her son, Gary Stoeger, her son-in-law Larry Gill, her grandson Charles Stoeger, her in-laws Jiggs and Irene Stoeger, and her siblings Betty Christensen, Richard Brown, Robert Brown, and Clea Rae Storey.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen Gill, and sons, Bob (Margaret), Mark (Janell), Doug (Chelsea), and David. Norma is also survived by grandchildren Tom, Kari (Joe), Tenille (James), Jared (Mandy), Jamie, Lucas (Chloe), Lincoln (Stephany), Calvin, Preston, Kaylee, Grace, Eve, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Norma passed away at home on September 10, 2026. While she will be missed greatly by so many, her wish for us here on Earth is to love each other and love the Lord each day.

Funeral service for Norma Stoeger was held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Valentine Methodist Church. The burial followed at Harmony Cemetery north of Valentine. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.