Norma R. Valdovinos

Norma Ruth Valdovinos, a long-time resident of Bagley, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at the age of 93.

Norma was the eldest of six children born to Lloyd and Elizabeth Jones. The family lived in northern Wisconsin when Norma was a child. One of her fond memories of that time was of picking the wild blueberries that grew there. She also told us of her early interest in birds and drawing as a little girl.

The family moved to Bloomington, Wisconsin when she was approximately 10 years old. She lived next door to her lifetime friends, Treasure Brookens (Myhre) and Patricia Hyer (Weaver).

Norma was a shy and pretty girl who continued to love birds, nature and art. She was known by her classmates as the artist. Her talent began with pen and paper and later in life, she discovered oils and left a collection of her beautiful oil paintings.

Throughout her life she had a love and understanding of horses. One of her memories was of a time as a young 10-year-old, when she and her brother, Bud, were driving a team of horses into Bloomington. They were sent with the wagon to deliver milk and eggs for sale. The horses were spooked and when Norma and Bud arrived into town, the wagon held spilled milk and broken eggs. Those were the days that society was transitioning from horses to gas powered vehicles.

It was sometime during her later high school years that she fell in love with her future husband Dewey Valdovinos. They were married on July 7, 1951. They lived in Southwest Grant County and settled in the Bagley area around 1962 with their four children.

Norma enjoyed taking care of her home and family. She made the best homemade bread and jams. Her huge, beautiful gardens always produced a bumper crop that she would can during the summer months. Norma’s pies were always available and were a treat for family and guests. Money was always tight but she knew how to make sure we had everything that we needed. Her joys were watching the birds that she fed outside her windows, watching them nest in the flowering bush outside her kitchen window and raising their families in the bluebird houses that our father made. She knew every bird and could tell them by their chirps and calls.

Her daughters had always dreamed of having a horse and when the girls were 12 and 13 Patches was brought home. Soon there were others added to the herd. Eventually Norma and Dewey harnessed King and Dolly and would give Bagley kids wagon rides in the summer and sled rides in the winter. Mom drove her horses in every Bagley 4th of July parade from 1978 until the horses were retired. She was also the driver of the team at the Stonefield Historic Site in Cassville when she was in her 60’s. It was part of her job to harness and hook up the huge draft horses. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge of horses.

Norma returned to school at the age of 50 and received her nursing assistant diploma from Southwest Technical College. She cared for many individuals in the area until her retirement. Norma had been a hard worker since a child and continued staying busy with her garden, canning, spending time with family and friends, and reading, which had always been one of her greatest pleasures.

Norma is survived by her children, Kathy (Kate) Valdovinos, Marjie Bennett, Douglas Valdovinos and Daryl Valdovinos. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Jesse Bennett, Chris Kivi and Tanya Gunderson. Also surviving are 4 great-grandchildren; Her sister-in-law Norma(Bud) Jones; brother-in-law Wes (Carol) Miller; brother-in-law Jack (Gail) Valdovinos; sister-in-law Nancy (Ron) VanNatta; and Dennis (Alietta) Valdovinos. Also surviving are nieces and nephews.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Elizabeth Jones; her husband Dewey Valdovinos; brothers Delwin and Bud; and sisters Lois, Arneatha and Carol. She was also preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law Hilario and Fairy Valdovinos; brother-in-laws Carmen and Quentin Valdovinos and sister-in-laws Louis (Bernard) Riggs, Birdie Hampton and Mary (Pete) Maiker and brother-in-law Ron Van Natta. Her special son-in-law Tom (Marjie) Bennett also preceded her in death.

The family is planning a private celebration of life for Norma at a later time. They appreciate all of the love and kindness that they have received during this life transition.