Norma J. Long, 85, Blooming Prairie

Norma J. Long, age 85, of Bloom-
ing Prairie, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus.
Norma Jean Vrieze was born May
1, 1934 in Spring Valley, the daughter of Roy and Grace (Lingbeck) Vrieze. She attended school in Spring Valley and graduated from Austin High School in 1952. On Nov. 29, 1953, Nor- ma married Robert Long in Austin. The couple lived on their farm until Norma J. Long
1998 when they moved to Blooming Prairie.
Norma worked at Holmes Greenhouse and the Bloom- ing Prairie Bakery. She also owned Norma’s Crafts for almost 40 years. She traveled to craft fairs in southern Minnesota and Arizona with her crafts that were all handmade and sewn. Norma had sewn over 1,000 denim shirts and sweatshirts, and over 500 stuffed rabbits, cows, and cabbage patch type dolls. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, reading, camping and traveling, especially trips to Alas- ka, Nova Scotia, Maine, and New England.
Norma loved wintering in Arizona for 15 years, and going to family gatherings. She was a past member of Geneva Community Lutheran Church. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Survivors include her children, Debbie (Bob) Farr of
Blooming Prairie, Cindy (Bob) Tyson, of Brainerd, Rick (Mary) Long of Rochester, Lisa (Rick) Hocking of Bloom- ing Prairie; eight grandchildren: Nicole, Brian, Michael, Amy, Brantley, David, Rachel, Jeremy; three step-grand- children: Melissa, Emily, Amanda; 17 great grandchildren; one step great grandchild; one great-great grandchild; sis- ter, Audrey Slowinski of Austin; nieces, nephews, cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Grace Vrieze, her husband, Robert in 2011; one grandson, Arron Stoen, and two granddaughters.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. Interment will be at the Geneva Cemetery. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.worlein.com.

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