Norma Jeane Kinsley, age 91, of Murdo, passed away Monday, February 4, 2013, at the Philip Nursing Home.
Norma Jeane Ernst was born August 5, 1921, at her parents’ farm south of Draper, South Dakota, the daughter of Adolph and Florence (Cahill) Ernst. She attended Dunkel grade school and, as was common then, she skipped one of the lower grades. She graduated from Draper High School in 1938. She then attended St. John’s McNamara School of Nursing in Rapid City and became a Registered Nurse. Part of her training was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After working a short time at the Murdo Hospital, she married the love of her life, Densel “Fat” Kinsley on June 25, 1943, an anniversary date they shared with her parents and Kip and Jean. They were loving partners for 52 years until his death on July 10, 1995.
Norma was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved being a farm wife, spending countless hours tending her garden, raising chickens, canning, freezing and making truly old fashioned home cooked meals. The coffee pot was always on, ready for a drop-in visitor and would generally be accompanied by a piece of pie, cake, cookies or a cinnamon roll. She always impressed on her children and grandchildren the importance of getting an education and was so very proud of each and every one of them.
In her empty nest years she was able to accompany Fat on some REA trips, bus tours, and visits to kids and grandkids. She also had time for her quilting and embroidery. Each grandchild was blessed with a quilt at their high school graduation. She made many, many quilts, laprobes, baby quilts, dish towels, and wall hangings.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and was a lifelong devout member and was active in the Mary and Martha Society. She also took part in 4-H, Bible Study and Choir.
She was blessed throughout her life with many wonderful relationships – three of the most special being her Aunt Maude and her friends Delphine Kruse and Margaret Rankin. Norma and Margaret were loyal volunteers at Hospice Thrift Store.
Thanks to the devoted care of her family she was able to stay in her own home until November of 2011 when she moved into the Philip Nursing Home. The family is so appreciative of the tender care she received by all of the staff and Dr. Klopper.
Survivors include three sons Clifford Kinsley and his wife Jean, Michael Kinsley, and Marty Kinsley and his wife Angie of Murdo; two daughters Karen Tedrow and her husband Ronald of Pierre, and Donna Beckerleg and her husband Gary of Walker, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister Gen Liffengren of Murdo; two sisters-in-law Martha Kinsley of Murdo, and Joyce Ernst of Pierre; her godsons Lindsay Liffengren,Corey Peters, and James Anderson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, Norma was preceded in death by a granddaughter Kristina Mueller; a great-grandson Luke Densel Hansen; one brother Wilmar Ernst; four brothers-in-law Kenneth Kinsley, Darrel Kinsley, Emil Finck, and Luverne Liffengren; two sisters-in-law Lucile Finck and Mabel Kinsley; a nephew Gerald Kinsley; and a niece Janet DeGooyer.
Visitation was held 6-7 p.m. CST Friday, February 8, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Murdo.
Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. CST Saturday, February 9, at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Murdo, with Pastor Ray Greenseth officiating.
Interment was at the Murdo Cemetery.
The family prefers memorials to the Alzheimer’s Society, Messiah Lutheran Church of Murdo, Countryside Hospice, or the Weber Van. 

FUNERAL SERVICES
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 2:00 p.m.
Messiah Lutheran Church
Murdo, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Ray Greenseth
MUSIC
Karen Royer - Pianist
Tara Kinsley & Michael Oberlander - Vocalists
Congregational Hymns
“Just as I Am”
“Abide with Me”
USHERS
Lawrence Roghair - Bob Totton - Alex Freier
Lindsay Liffengren - Corey Peters
REGISTER BOOK ATTENDANTS
Margie Peters - Jackie Fosheim
ACTIVE PALLBEARERS
Jim Kinsley - Todd Tedrow
Tim Kinsley - Kelly Kinsley
Richard Carrillo - Anthony Kinsley
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Michele Loesche - Barb Hansen
Angela Oberlander - Heidi Bouma
Pam Strain - Cassie Lewis
INTERMENT
Murdo Cemetery
Murdo, South Dakota