Nora Humphrey

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Nora Vivian Humphrey was born at the Sister’s Hospital in Hot Springs, S.D., June 27, 1918, to   Ben and Marie (Peterson) Harrison. Nora lived on a ranch south of Oelrichs, S.D., until 1930 when they moved into Oelrichs township. When she was 17 years old her mother then her father died and she was left to care for her two younger sisters, one 15 and one 12. She graduated from Oelrichs High School in 1936. In 1937, she married Harold Humphrey where Harold worked in the light plant for his step-father. They then went into the gamble store business. Harold went into the military service in WWII and Nora continued managing the store and also carried mail for the surrounding area. Their two sons, John and Joe, were born in 1946 and 1948. In 1958 another son, Ben, was born.. Harold entered employment with Peter Kiewit & Co. when the canals were built at Angostura Dam. He continued employment with them and traveled to several places in the U.S. with family in tow. They settled in La Crescenta, Calif., for about 25 years until retiring and moving back to Custer, S.D., in 1978. Nora continued to live in that home until May 2008 when she moved to Prairie Pines Lodge in Chadron, Neb., to be with her two sisters Adeline and Sarah. Nora was very talented in the arts and she sewed and crocheted many  things. She then took up painting classes and became an artist. For several years after moving to Custer she taught tole painting until this past spring. The last couple of years she painted hundreds of Christmas ornaments with roses and buffalo which she sold and gave away. Last year she was part of the Custer Stampede painted buffalo auction and was proud to have her work displayed on the side of a buffalo. Nora was also an antique collector and became knowledgeable of that. Her home was decorated with antiques including furniture, glass and lamps which she knew how to display. She liked to entertain and have friends and family visit her home often. Nora was a member of St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer and The American Legion Auxiliary in Oelrichs. Nora died Dec. 11, 2008, at the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Center in Chadron, Neb. She was 90. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Harold; father and mother; brother-in-law Harold Arevesen; and 10 half-brothers and sisters, Jessie (Bill) Ormesher, Blanche (Milo) Groves, Ethel (Ralph) Wilcox, Abigail Harrison, Arthur (Helen) Harrison, Archie (Ellen) Harrison, Walter (Eunice) Harrison, Bill (DeVee) Harrison, Alonzo Harrison and Ruth (Leon) Bennett. She is survived by her three sons. John (Jan) of Hill City, S.D., Joe (Denise) of Las Vegas, Nev., and Ben (Michael) of Lead, S.D.; four grandchildren, Amy (Rafael)  DeLoera of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Sara (Martin) Covey of Big Bear City, Calif., and Michael Humphrey and Karin (Nate) Morrison, both of Las Vegas; three great-granddaughters, Paige, Willow and Dakota from California; two sisters Adeline (Bill) Frahm of Chadron, and Sarah Arvesen of South Bend, Ind.; and many nieces; nephews; and friends.  Wake services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.  Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20 at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Chuch in Csuter with Father Peter Kovarik officiating.  Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.