Norva Pruter, 87, of Great Bend, Kansas, and former Natoma and Russell, Kansas, resident died on Saturday, December 07, 2019, at the Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, Kansas.
Norva was born on October 01, 1932, in Natoma, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Adeline (Stiverson) Weldon. She grew up in Natoma and graduated from Natoma High School in the class of 1950. After high school, she attended the Kansas City Bible College in Overland Park, Kansas. As a young lady, she worked at the Natoma Ben Franklin Variety Store and the Natoma Post Office. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Ray Eldon Pruter on September 28, 1951, in Natoma, Kansas. From this union, Norva and Ray were blessed with three children: Jodell, Dale and Kenny. Norva remained a stay-at-home mom until her children were grown and then worked as a kitchen employee at the Russell Senior Center until retiring in 1999.
She dedicated her life to the Lord at an early age and was an active member of the Church of God (Holiness) in Natoma where she held various offices. Later in life, she attended Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas, and the Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, Kansas. She loved and was passionate about her relationship with Christ and lived her life based on Christ’s love and teachings. Because of her strong relationship with Christ, she faithfully read and studied the Bible on a daily basis and took great pride in fully reading the Bible for 35 years in a row. Her friends and family will fondly remember her as a devout Christian and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She will also be remembered as a person who was a great listener and always took the time to help with and pray for her family and friends’ joys and concerns.
She enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, going to family reunions, church camp, and gospel music, especially quartets.
Norva’s surviving family include her daughter Jodell Glick of Winfield, Kansas; sons Dale E. Pruter (Sherry) and Kenny Pruter (Patty) both of Great Bend, Kansas; sister Elsie Richmond of Plainville, Kansas; 4 grandchildren: Tarena, Trent, Luke and Audra; ten great grandchildren: Levi, Taylor, Sophia, Sydnee, Sylvia, Kaiden, Kenzlie, Maddie, Henry and Halle; and one great great grandchild Roland.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 62 years, Ray Eldon, on April 29, 2014.
A celebration of Norva’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Thursday, December 12, 2019, at the Great Bend First Church of the Nazarene, Great Bend, Kansas, with Pastors Josh and Amy Foster officiating. Burial will take place at the Natoma City Cemetery at 2:30 PM on Thursday in Natoma, Kansas. Visitation will take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 12. Memorials may be given to Great Bend First Church of the Nazarene and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell and Natoma are in charge of the funeral service arrangements.