Norma Jane Johnson was born August 12, 1926, in Wall, South Dakota, the third of four children born to Sam and Lila (Packman) Johnson.

She attended Wall public school for twelve years. After graduation, she received a teaching certificate from Black Hills State Teacher’s College and taught in the Wall area for several years.

Norma was united in marriage to Bryce O. Kennedy on August 23, 1947, in Rapid City, and to this union were born four children. They made their home in Wall where Norma and Bryce owned and operated the Wall Standard Service and several rural mail routes in the area until Bryce’s death in 1982. She continued to operate the mail routes for several years until her retirement in 1988. Her greatest joy was being Bryce’s wife and the mother to their four children.

Norma’s passion in her younger years was horses, and in her adult years she was her grandchildren’s biggest fan and she also enjoyed bowling.

Grateful for having shared her life include her four children Ronda Sieling and her husband Steve of LaGrange Park, Illinois; Boyce Kennedy and his wife Kathy of Wall; Peggy Kretz and her husband Bob of Kettering, Ohio; and Rock Kennedy and his wife Andrea of Aurora, Colorado; thirteen grandchildren, Steve Sieling, Brittany Book, Heidi Sieling, Lindsey Sieling, Megan Kennedy, Joe Kennedy, Jill Vrchota, Bob Kretz, Scott Kretz, Shane Kretz, Trevor Kretz, Lauren Kennedy, and Colin Kennedy; eight great-grandchildren; best friend and sister Peggy Benne of Wall; two brothers in-law, Howard Kennedy of Philip, and Bob Kennedy and his wife Helen of Sioux Falls; two sisters in-law Doris Billington and her husband John of Lead and Janie Kennedy of Rapid City; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband Bryce Kennedy on October 14, 1982; her parents; one brother Bud Johnson; one sister Norrie Phillips; her father and mother in-law, George and Anna Kennedy; three brothers in-law Glenn Phillips, Jack Benne, and Duck Kennedy; and two sisters in-law Merle Johnson and Dorothy Kennedy.

Visitation was held 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Wednesday.

Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, at the United Methodist Church in Wall, with Pastor Jim Cissell officiating.

Interment was in the Wall Cemetery.

A memorial is established.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Wednesday, September 8, 2004 2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota
MINISTER
Pastor Jim Cissell
MUSIC
Jamie Jorgenson – Pianist
Vocalists
Ronda Sieling – Peggy Kretz and Families
"For Those Tears I Died"
Scott Kretz – Vocalist
"I Can Only Imagine"
USHERS
Bernard Foster – Bill Leonard – Jerry Johannesen
PALLBEARERS
Steve Sieling – Bob Kretz
Scott Kretz – Shane Kretz
Trevor Kretz – Joe Kennedy
Colin Kennedy
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota