Norma Jean Shafer, age 90, of Mitchell, SD, died Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Monday, February 29, 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Monday at the church.

Norma Jean Shafer, daughter of Raymond and Bertha (Zimmer) Torbet on February 17, 1926 in Mitchell, SD. She attended Mitchell High School. On March 17, 1944 she was united in marriage with Clyde N. Shafer in the San Diego, CA area. Norma and Cora (Nichols) Shafer rode the train from Mitchell, SD to San Diego so she could marry Clyde where he was stationed in the Navy. They married at the Carlsbad Hotel.

When Clyde was honorably discharged from his service in the US Navy, the couple returned to Mitchell. Norma and Clyde owned and operated the C.N. Shafer Memorials until Clyde's death in 1969.

Norma had been a member of Holy Family Catholic Church until she took up residence in the Sioux Falls area for health reasons. She was kind hearted and caring towards all her loved ones, which the family experienced at the many family gathering they had with her.

Grateful for having shared their lives with Norma are her three children, Gary (Kay) Shafer, Mitchell, SD, Beckie (Keith) Beeners, Sioux Falls, SD, Michael (Chuck) Shafer, Woodbury, MN; eight grandchildren, John, of ND, Kimberly, Tammy, Angie and Dawn all of SD, Amy and Cory of MN, Katie of NE; two step grandchildren, Matthew of CO, Mindi of SD; 17 great grandchildren, Madison, Mariah, Tagen and Tate of ND, Joshua, Jeremy and Alexandra, of SD, Nathan of AZ, Brianna, Amber, Tyler, Jacob, Ashlee, Jordyn and Samantha, of SD, Preston and Kylie of NE; five step great grandchildren, Grace, Dawson and Oliver of SD, Max and Macie of CO; two great great grandchildren, Gavin and Ethan of ND.

Norma was preceded in death by her loving husband, Clyde on October 31, 1969; her brother, Vernon Torbet, lost at sea in 1945; and a sister, Dorothy Hart, in 2013.