Bobby Norden

Bobby Ray Van Norden, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas. Bob was born September 23, 1925 in Marshall, Texas, the son of Troy R. & Gretchen Pyland Van Norden. As a small boy, he rode the ice wagon with his uncle and like most young kids, had a paper route. He joined the United States Navy in 1943 and following his discharge in 1945, worked in a cookware factory and later for the California Gas Company. In 1947, the family returned to Marshall, Texas and in 1949, to Cimarron, Kansas where he worked in farming and as a mechanic in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1951 he began his career with the Unites States Government as an office manager and later as a field employee for the ASCS office. In 1961, he transferred to Leoti, Kansas, where he was the County Office Manager for ASCS and in 1971 accepted the District Manager position, retiring in 1987. Bob was a member of the United Methodist Church, served as a Lay Minister, was a Rotarian, served two terms as a Leoti City Councilman and two terms as Leoti Mayor beginning in 1996 through 2005. On December 13, 1945, he married Ramona Malee Koehn in North Hollywood, California. She passed away on September 3, 2005 in Leoti, Kansas, Bob's surviving family include Three sons- Stephen Van Norden- Wichita, Kansas Randal Van Norden- Yuma, Colorado Rodney Van Norden- Garden City, Kansas One daughter- Janelle Jones- Leoti, Kansas Two brothers- Jerry Van Norden- Hallsville, Texas Troy Van Norden- Marshall, Texas One sister- Suzanne Flores- Fort Worth, Texas Seven Grandchildren and Seventeen Great Grandchildren. His parents, his wife, and a sister Delores preceded him in death. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2010 at the Christ Covenant Church in Leoti, Kansas with the Reverend Bob Everest officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday at the Cimarron Cemetery in Cimarron, Kansas with Military Honors provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard from Wichita, Kansas. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church, the Christ Covenant Church or the Wichita County Health Center in care of the funeral home.