Norma J. Purpus, 85, Minster, died at 6:11 a.m. July 3, 2012, at her home.

She was born Dec. 11, 1926, in Minster to Julius and Nora Ritter Woehrmyer. On April 12, 1947, she married Theodore "Ted" Purpus, who died Oct. 20, 2007.

Surviving are three children, Nancy (Tim) Jay, Don Purpus and Jay (Renee) Purpus, all of Minster; her adopted family, Jeff (Ruth) Bitler and their children, Minster; a brother-in-law, Thomas Purpus, Anderson, Ind., and nine grandchildren.

Deceased are a daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Lyndel Belcher, and siblings and their spouses, Russell and Irma Woehrmyer, Earl and Phyllis Woehrmyer and Vera and Harold Dorsten.

She was a founding member of the F.J. Stallo Library Board and had been named Minster Athletic Booster of the Year. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, where she was a lay communion distributor, lector and CCD teacher, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, St. Monica Rosary-Altar Sodality, the historical society and Ladies Bridge Marathon, all of Minster.

Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Rick Nieberding officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-7 p.m. Sunday and 9 -9:30 a.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.

Contributions may be made to Minster Area Life Squad or Grand Lake Hospice.

Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com