Norma Dykstra

Norma Eileen Dykstra passed away, Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Hospice of the Valley patient care unit in Mesa, Arizona. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on September 2nd and wanted to spend her remaining days in the Arizona sunshine that she loved. Norma, daughter of Lewis Edward Veverka and Wanda Maxine Saunders, was born March 8, 1931, in Grinnell, Iowa. In her childhood, the family moved to Newton and Des Moines, Iowa where Norma attended school. She helped raise her younger sister, Gloria, while her parents worked and she learned to be a caretaker for others through her early years of life. She was married young and raised her daughter, Shirley, and son, Denny, in Des Moines. In 1970, Norma married Leonard "Butch" Jacobsen of Lake Park, Iowa and spent their lives together with his two children, Marc and Lacie, living in the Iowa Great Lakes Region. Norma was noted as a hard worker and helped her husband run their family grocery store in Lake Park, along with his son, Marc, until Butch was taken by cancer in 1997. Norma met Vernon Dykstra in 2000. It was instant love and they married later that year, spending their summers in Okoboji and winters in Arizona for the last 11 years. They were members of the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church and the Apache Wells Community Church in Mesa, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling to Italy, Germany, England, and Alaska with their church group. Norma loved her time with Vernon's family - especially his kids and grandkids. Gardening, cooking, reading, dancing, entertaining friends and making a beautiful home for her family were some of her personal passions. Golf was something she learned in her 30's and she became pretty good at it playing in many ladies and couples tournaments. One of Norma's greatest gifts was her ability to make people feel loved and welcome. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her husband, her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. She was so proud of all of them. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shirley Carr; son, Denny Lavia; husband, Butch Jacobsen; and step-son, Marc Jacobsen. Norma is survived by her husband, Vernon; sisters, Gloria Vakerics of Upland, California and Darlene McBride of Des Moines; step-daughter, Lacie and her husband, Terry Thrall of Mesa, Arizona; step-sons, Brian and his wife Sandy Dykstra of Omaha, Nebraska and Todd Dykstra and friend, Jennifer, of Hartley; step-daughter, Lisa and her husband John Rigby of Spencer; daughter-in-law, Becky Jacobsen of Arnolds Park; brother-in law, Elmer & his wife, Gloria, of Spencer; sister-in-law Betty Bonker and her husband, Leonard, of Harlingen, Texas; grandsons, Donnie Carr of Yukon, Oklahoma & Doug Carr & fiancée, Angie Feller, of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, AJ, Breanna, and Marcus Dykstra; Kyle, Derek, Paige, & Kymberli Dykstra; four great-grandkids, Josh and Jacob Carr of Texas, Mellissa and Tiffany Carr of Oklahoma, and several nieces and nephews. Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake assisted with arrangements. Memorials will be given to Lakes Regional Hospice, Hospice of the Valley in Arizona, and Norma & Vern's churches.