Norma Jean Tellinghuisen

Sibley, IA        Norma Tellinghuisen age 88 formerly of Sibley, IA died Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Perham Living in Perham, MN.        Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 9th at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, with Reverend Terry Simm officiating.        Burial will follow in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley, IA.        Visitation will be Thursday, February 8th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.        Norma Jean Tutje was born on August 3, 1929, to Christoffer and Eleanor (Wolter) Tutje on her parent’s farm Southeast of Bigelow, MN. Soon after, the family moved to the farm which she and her younger siblings Chris Jr. (Bud) and Alice would call home, three miles north of Allendorf, IA. She attended the brick country school north of Allendorf through the 8th grade, and later graduated from Sibley High School’s Class of 1949. Following high school, she worked at a retail store in Sibley. Years before, at the age of 8, at her aunt Jennie Tutje’s wedding she met the man who would later ask for her hand.      Norma was married to Marvin Tellinghuisen by Rev. J.A. Rotschafer at First Presbyterian Church in Sibley Iowa on February 26, 1954 in front of family and friends. The Lord blessed their marriage with three boys, Dennis in 1957, Doyle in 1961, and Dale in 1963.      Whether tending to her large garden to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, or canning Bing Cherries and other fruits and vegetables to sustain her family through the winter, Norma enjoyed life on the farm. Among her loving contributions to her young, growing family were sewing kids’ shirts, jeans and darning socks. Her Holiday baking was highlighted by big Thanksgiving spreads with all the trimmings, while Christmas fudge, Bing Bars, and other goodies rounded out the year.      She enjoyed traveling with Marvin to visit her Sister Alice’s family in Wichita, KS, on fishing trips to Minnesota, or snowbird outings to Texas, and to visit family and friends nearer home.      Following Marvin’s passing in 1998, she left her house in Sibley to live at Heartwood Heights for a time, and then in 2012, moved to Perham Living in Perham, MN, to be close to family there, where she have lived for the past six years.      Always an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, Norma regularly attended Ladies Circle, Married Group activities, and Sunday school. Her relationship with the Lord included prayers for the family’s protection from storms, healing for her boys’ many scratches and scrapes, thankfulness for their health, and Gods’ presence in times of trouble.      Norma’s faithful table prayer each night at suppertime was: “Be present at our table Lord, be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless and grant that we, may feast in Paradise with thee. Amen.”        She is survived by her sister Alice Nusbaum, of Wichita, KS, and by her three sons, Denny (Avis) Tellinghuisen, of Rapid City, SD, Doyle Tellinghuisen, of Sibley Iowa, and Dale (LaDonna) Tellinghuisen, of Perham, MN, as well as her 6 grandchildren, 1 great grandson, and several nieces and nephews.        On February 3, 2018, Norma joined her beloved Marvin, who preceded her into the Lord’s rest, along with her parents, Chris and Eleanor Tutje, her brothers Bud, and Donald Dean, who died in infancy.