Norma Rednour was born November 5, 1921 to Frank and Katherine Dalke Kliewer in Drake, Saskatchewan where her father worked for a few years. She and her brother, Wally, were born in that province. She was the fifth of nine children. When the time came for the family to return to the states, her mother took Norma and Wally on the train bound for Kansas. Her father came along by car with the rest of the family (which included 5 children ages 5-15). He drove across the border at night, and later found out that the border police were searching for them. He managed to get the family to Kansas without arrest or incident.

In 1926, the Kliewers came west with the Schirmer and Nichols families and helped to establish the Mennonite Church in Spring Valley, Washington. To accommodate her father's work, the family was moved many places. Mom used to describe that her father had itchy feet. Our German exchange student's mother misunderstood what this meant and would say, "I'm sorry to hear about your father's foot problem." At the Mennonite church, some services were in German, and at times, she and her friends didn't understand everything, so they would sneak out of church to go play cards at the parsonage.

Her family was very involved in the music at the church, with her father leading the choir and her mother playing the pump organ. Each member of the family naturally sang in the choir, and this singing in parts was something she and her siblings did the rest of their lives when they would get together. She played hymns at home when she was young, and she had about 6 months of lessons in her late teens. She then proceeded to play for church for 65 years. It was something important for her own family: to make music together.

Norma had five sisters, and every one of them worked as operators for the Telephone company. She worked in the Telegraph office of the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, and at Farragut Training Station during World War II.

In 1943, she married Richard Schirmer and they moved to California where he worked for a logging company. They had four children: Lois Ann Barnell, Donald Schirmer, Peg Cornelis and Tom Schirmer. After Richard's death in 1954, Mom moved back to Washington to be near her family. Her sister, Dory Schwab, introduced her to Robert Rednour and they married in '56 and had three children: Mark Rednour, Scott Rednour and Barb Douglass.

She was involved in Grange, Christian Women's Clubs, and the Dalkena Community Church.

Norma demonstrated strength of faith, power of love, and hospitality to all; even strangers traveling through the area. She always showed concern for everyone else's needs. You could always expect a "love you lots" at the end of a phone conversation. If you came to visit at dinner, there was always a place at the table for you. If you needed to stay the night, there was a place to sleep. And always, always a cup of coffee for you.

She liked non-skid pancakes (waffles), Lawrence Welk, Keeping up Appearances, and Jeopardy. She loved to read (she was a charter member of the Doubleday Book of the Month Club), knit, sew, and quilt. She liked traveling (as long as she had the map), and passed on a love of music and singing to her children. She loved going on truck picnics, and teaching all the silly songs she sang as a teenager growing up in Spring Valley. Trips to Canada, and Montana; trips with Tom, and with all the aunts and uncles to Chelan Lake.

Norma died on April 8, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, first husband, Dick Schirmer, daughter Lois Ann Barnell, son, Donald Schirmer, and second husband, Robert Rednour. Survivors include two sisters-in-laws: Hazel Kliewer and Dixie Kliewer, Five children and spouses: Peg and John Cornelis of Newport, Tom and Jeanne Schirmer of Altoona, IA, Mark and Diana Rednour of Usk, Scott Rednour and Steven Honig of Spokane, and Barb and Tim Douglass of Silverton, OR; a son-in-law, Paul Barnell, and a daughter-in-law, Min Jung Shirmer, 17 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-­grandchildren, and numerous nieces & nephews. She was much loved and will be missed by all.

Services will be held at a later date.