Norma J. Ravis Essence of the Life

NORMA JEAN (JOHNSON) RAVIS went to be with Jesus at age 78 on Dec. 7, 2019 in Minneapolis.
Norma was born on March 10, 1941 in Calhoun County, IA. She grew up on a farm in rural Iowa and attended schools in Gowrie, IA; after graduating from high school she attended business school in  Des Moines, IA and then worked for the District Office of Safeway Foods in Fort Dodge, IA.
 While working in Des Moines she became a pen pal with James Ravis, who was in the United States Navy. She married James Ravis in Laramie WY on Oct. 20, 1961. While living in Laramie she worked as a secretary for a University of Wyoming Campus Ministry and for the United Presbyterian Church. While living in Laramie she gave birth to two sons Mark  Ravis and Brett Ravis. In 1966 she moved to Marion, IA and lived there for two years.
 In 1968 she moved to the Minnetonka Mills area of Minnetonka. She was a Member of the Minnetonka Community Church. She was also a member of the Ruth Circle  and participated in making  quilts for graduating seniors and lap robes for nursing homes.  She also lived in Chanhassen for many years, not far from the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, where she enjoyed many of their productions.
She moved to a lake home in Ross Lake about 15 miles north of Aitkin in 1998. She was a member of the Journey North Church of Aitkin and the two preceding churches; she was also part of a group from the church that sewed quilts for graduating seniors.  She was a member of the Ripple River Quilters and a church  group that sews children's clothing for orphanages in Africa. Norma loved cuddling on the couch and watching Wheel of Fortune with her dog Lucy. She also loved walking on the wooded trails with Lucy on the 20 acre lake property that was her home.
Norma enjoyed making candy for her grandchildren, nieces and nephews each Christmas and sending them great birthday and Christmas cards. It was with pleasure that she  read as much as possible to her children and then her grandchildren, and they remember those times with great joy. She made special quilts for her sons, wedding quilts for her granddaughters, receiving quilts for newborns in the family and submitted a quilt to the Aitkin County Fair that won "Grand Prize".  She also enjoyed dining with the church dinner groups and lunching with the "Aitkin Lady Bugs Red Hat Group".  To sum up Norma we would add that one group of ladies called her "Nice Norma".
 She is preceded in death by her mother Nina Johnson and father William (Bill) Johnson both of Lake City, IA. She is survived by her loving husband, James Ravis, and two sons and daughter-in-laws Mark Eugene and Christine Ravis of Madison, WI and Brett Evan and Betsy Ravis of Savage; two granddaughters   and spouse Brittany Morgan Ravis of Richland Center, WI and Bridget Ingrid and Donald Ravis-Hart of Madison, WI and one great-granddaughter, Mary Jane Hirshbrunner of Richland Center, WI. She is also survived by a brother, Bill Johnson of Boone, IA and a sister Lynda Killen of Sac City, IA and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Norma’s life will be noon Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Journey North Church in Aitkin.  Reverend Dallas Smith and Reverend Lynfield Hines will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Aitkin.