Norma L. Zuern

Norma L. Zuern, 95, of Hazen, ND went to join her family in heaven on November 29, 2025, at Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen, ND. A celebration of Norma’s life will be held next summer.

Norma was born on June 5, 1930, to Henry and Ida (Spier) Weil in Beulah, ND. Norma grew up on a farm outside of Beulah and loved the time she spent helping her father do work outdoors. She grew up with sisters, Virginia, and June. Norma married Elden Zuern on August 31, 1947. They lived in Yankton, SD while Elden finished Seminary. Norma laughingly recalled typing Elden’s handwritten papers with so many mistakes that his professor suggested his wife get typing lessons. They moved to Shattuck, OK when Elden accepted a Call to serve a church there. While in OK, they became proud parents of Linda in 1950 and Paula in 1952. Norma told stories of living in the Tornado Belt and gathering both girls to rush into the storm shelter more times than she liked. Future church Calls took their family to McLaughlin, SD and finally to Quincy, MA where they raised their children. Norma was proud of the contributions she made to the family through her jobs at the Shipyard in Quincy, and at Bridgewater State College. 

Elden and Norma both loved the fresh lobster available in Massachusetts and continued to have a New Years Eve seafood tradition throughout their 72-year marriage. After retirement in MA, Elden and Norma moved back to ND and lived in her dad’s house in Beulah for a brief time before purchasing their country home north of Hazen near Elden’s family homestead. They felt blessed to be surrounded by family and a wonderful community of friends. Norma had a great sense of style and loved to dress nicely. In fact, she was on a first name basis with the salespeople at Chico’s. After Elden’s death in 2020, Norma lived in her home with her daughter Linda for a year before moving into the Senior Suites in Hazen. She resided there for 2.5 years before moving to the Knife River Care Center in Beulah. While she hated leaving her own home, she would be the first to tell you that she received wonderful care while living at both facilities.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elden, her daughters Linda, and Paula, her adopted sister Lorna, her brothers-in-law Thomas Tait and Robert Whitelaw, and a nephew, Neil Tait. She is survived by her sisters Virginia Tait (FL) and June Whitelaw (MA), nephews Michael Whitelaw and Noel Tait, niece Claudine Flood, great-nieces and nephews, and many special cousins. 

Memorials may be sent to the church of your choice or to the Knife River Care Center, Beulah, ND.