Norma June Mather, the daughter and youngest of nine children of William Glen and Fern Elizabeth (Norton) Henning, was born June 2, 1939, in rural Westboro, Missouri. She attended Westboro High School, graduating in 1957.

On May 18, 1957, Norma was united in marriage to Phillip Duane “Butch” Mather in Pasadena, California while he was on leave from the Navy. They returned to Westboro in 1958 where they raised their five children: Phil, Janice, Cindy, Diane, and Jennifer. Butch passed away October 4, 2015.

Norma was primarily a homemaker, where she took care of every need of her family, making sure that although they may not have had much in the early years, they never wanted for anything. She was an excellent cook and had the unique ability to whip a meal together on short notice. She made spectacular feasts for family get-togethers during holidays, weenie roasts, or just because, and always had a “special dish” for each of her grandkids. She loved talking to her friends and neighbors about her kids and grandkids. Norma always put everyone else, especially her family, first.

Norma was also employed as a school cook for Westboro School where many children enjoyed the wonderful homemade meals she prepared. Norma also worked in the family business, as a bookkeeper for Lewis Mather & Sons Construction, retiring in 2003. She also volunteered as an EMT for Westboro first responders. Norma was a very devoted and active member of the Westboro Methodist Church and United Methodist Church Women group. Norma loved preparing meals for church functions and especially the annual Lord’s Acre Day event. She was extremely proud when she and Butch were honored as Grand Marshals during the parade in 2013. Norma was also greatly involved with the annual planning of the Westboro Alumni Banquet. She looked forward to planning and attending every year until declining health prevented her from doing so. She enjoyed crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, bowling, playing cards, and watching college basketball, especially the Creighton Blue Jays! She most loved checking in on her family almost every day and what was going on in each of their lives. Norma’s family was her pride & joy and she loved being surrounded by laughter and fun.

Norma passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the Shenandoah Medical Center, Shenandoah, Iowa, at the age of 84.

Besides her parents and husband, Butch Mather, Norma was preceded in death by siblings, Betty, James, Russell, Pat, and Carolyn. Survivors include children, Phil (Monica) Mather, Coin, Iowa, Janice (Scott) Cooper, Boise, Idaho, Cindy Mather, Kansas City, Missouri, Diane (Craig) Livengood, and Jennifer (Corey) Lesher, all of Tarkio, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Jill (Gerad) Hardy, John (Heather) Mather, Mark (Heather) Mather, David (Kaitlinn) Mather, Mike (Amanda) Mather, Cara Livengood, Kyle (Lee Ann) Livengood, Madison Lesher and Daniel Lesher; 22 great-grandchildren, Sierra (Rayan), Avery, Jackson, Alex, Emmy, Adrianne, Joslyn, Wyatt, Luke, Lyla, Hank, Parker, Lilly, Garrett, Graham, Carly, Genevieve, Ellie, Henry, Camilla, Lettie and Evelyn; three great-great grandchildren, Zayne, Kaius, and Leila; siblings, Sally Perham, Virgil Henning, and Mary Ann Beggs; numerous special nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M., Monday, November 27, 2023, Westboro Methodist Church, Westboro.

Open visitation will begin 10:00 A.M., Sunday, November 26, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio where the family will receive friends from 5:00-6:00 P.M.

Interment: Center Grove Cemetery, Westboro.

Memorials: Center Grove Cemetery or Westboro Methodist Church.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapel.com