Norma Lipp

With a life that spanned nearly a century, Norma Lipp lived life to the fullest each day. She was gracious, hardworking, and wise with a passion for the incredible worth found in a solid education. Norma was a devoted wife and loving mother who was an integral part in the lives of her family that grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the sort of woman who was content with what she had, and even when trying times came, her beauty and strength never wavered. Life will be forever changed without Norma here, but her timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow her.

Life in America during the early part of the 1900s was drastically different from the life we know and love today. Unsafe working conditions were abundant in cities and towns all across the nation, and with a lack of child labor laws it was often the nation’s youth who paid the highest price. Automobiles were only for the wealthy, but the automobile industry was filled with great promise with Henry Ford’s assembly line that began operating on the Model T in 1913. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Walloon Lake, Michigan, was blessed with the birth of a baby girl on May 13, 1915. Norma E. was the middle of three children born to her parents, Charles and Edna (Spafford) Flashman, and she was raised in the family home in the Middleville area alongside her siblings, Elaine and Arthur. She was a student at local schools, and during a time when young people were more often found in the workplace than they were in the classroom Norma graduated from Thornapple Kellogg Schools in 1933.

It was as a young woman that Norma met the man of her dreams. He was a square dance caller with a crazy hat named Adrian Lipp, and they met at a talent show in Hartford in 1937 when she and her sister were singing a duet. Sparks flew right from the start, and they were soon deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together Norma and Adrian were married on October 20,1938, in her mother’s living room in Hartford. The newlyweds had no resources to take a honeymoon, and since money was so limited they didn’t even have a wedding cake.

Norma and Adrian moved to the Paw Paw area where he worked as a farmer and as a custodian for Bloomingdale Schools. Norma had learned how to weave rugs out of rags from her mother, which she sold to help make ends meet. They built a very primitive home just north of Paw Paw, which was so rustic that it only had two rooms and no electricity or plumbing. Over the years they added a basement and a bathroom, enlarged the kitchen, and added bedrooms as they welcomed four children into their hearts and home: Marjorie, Dortha, Patricia, and James.

Throughout their married lives Norma and her husband were simple people who lived a simple life. She was a fantastic cook who always made sure that there was a good meal on the table with fresh ingredients from their massive garden. Norma made the best chicken and rice in her own unique way, and her homemade donuts and bread were a family favorite. Sunday dinners usually consisted of chicken and dumplings. On one occasion Norma took her children to see the construction of the Mackinaw bridge, but for the most part there was never enough extra money for vacations, however, they found fun activities that were simple and free. Norma was an avid reader who went to the library on a weekly basis to check out a stack of books. Of course she required that her children do the same to enhance their reading skills. Usually Dortha had to read to Norma while she was preparing dinner as education was always of the utmost importance to Norma. She was so proud that all of her children graduated from high school and that three of them also had college degrees.

There were numerous things and experiences that enriched Norma’s journey through the years. She and her husband enjoyed square dancing, and later in life they did some traveling to places like Niagara Falls, North Carolina to visit his brother, and to the Grand Canyon. Throughout their travels they slept in Adrian’s truck that had a simple cab. Norma put her skills in the kitchen to good use working in a bakery for a few months where she especially enjoyed making wedding cakes. In fact, she kept making cakes at home for several years to earn some extra money. Norma was a gifted seamstress who made clothes for her family from old feed sacks and coats from blankets; as the kids got older, she was able to purchase fabric with which to make clothing. When clothes wore out and weren't able to be passed down she made them into rag rugs. She regularly made hand towels both to give away as gifts and to sell. It goes without saying that Norma certainly knew how to stretch a dollar! She also knew how to knit, canned everything, had numerous house plants, and loved cats so much that they were running all over the house to the point of being overpopulated. Norma treasured being a grandmother and even helped care for three of her grandchildren, Diane, Debbie, and David, making a significant impact in their lives.

During her sunset years Norma experienced some significant life changes. She was deeply saddened with Adrian’s death in 1995. Shortly thereafter she moved in with Dortha for the 13 and eight months years that followed. While there Norma attended Decatur Bible Church with Dortha. When she needed more care than Dortha could provide her at home, Norma moved into a nursing home.

For Norma Lipp, her home was her haven that she tirelessly maintained for the family she loved. Her skills at home were unmatched as she could do just about anything to stretch a dollar. Norma took her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to heart, and it was easy to see that her family was her greatest source of pride and joy. She will be deeply missed while the priceless collection of memories she made with her loved ones will be forever cherished.

Norma E. Lipp, of Decatur and formerly of Paw Paw, died March 13, 2014, in Dowagiac. Norma’s family includes her 4 children: Marjorie Lipsey, Dortha (Willie) Benson-Pasley, Patricia (Bill) Leseur, and James (Cathy) Lipp; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews; and special caregivers: Loreine (Richard) Beeching and Sandy Cargo. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Adrian Lipp; siblings, Elaine Collins and Arthur Flashman; and granddaughter, April Lipp. Due to her grandson's surgery, services were held Saturday, March 15, 2014, 5:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson- Paw Paw, 60900 M-40; 657-3870. Burial at Hill Cemetery, Lawrence. Please visit Norma's personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to the Decatur Bible Church.