Cloudy and Windy, 58° F
Mary Van Norman (our “Slowpoke Turtle”) gained her wings as she passed peacefully at her home in Powell on Feb. 18, 2023. Born on May 16, 1941 in Auburn, Washington to Cornelis and Elsie van Putten, she was one of nine children growing up on dairy farms in the Seattle/Tacoma area and graduating from high school in Enumclaw, Washington.
She met and married the love of her life (Ken Van Norman, her “Wyoming Cowboy”) while he was stationed at the Fort Lewis Army Base near Tacoma, Washington and moved to Wyoming in 1965 where they lived in Powell, Edgerton, Worland, and then settled back in Powell in 1970, where she lived for almost 53 years.
Mary was a caregiver from her early teens until the last couple of years of her life. When home health care providers were required to have a CNA license, she passed the exam with a 100% and was asked to help teach the class. Some of her greatest achievements were assisting people to live out their last days at their home rather than having to go to a nursing home.
Mary was a devoted and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sibling and friend. Mary was preceeded in death by her husband Ken, her father, her mother, and four siblings. She is survived by three sisters Joanne (Ron) Miller, Anna Petchnick, and Eileen Mayer and one brother Cornelis van Putten Jr.; daughter Donna Van Norman-Taylor and son Tom (Shellie) Van Norman; five grandchildren (Annie (Diesel) and Amie McWilliams; Chris, Samantha, and Jacob Van Norman); and six great-grandchildren (Jack, Anna Leigh, Quincy, Kensleigh, Mavrik and Mason).
Mary was dearly loved and will be missed by many! Per her request, there won’t be any services. Her wishes were that everyone remember the enjoyable experiences that they had with her throughout the years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of their choice in Mary’s name. Memories can be shared on the Thompson Funeral Home website at thompsonfuneral.net/obituaries.
