87
Bonesteel, SD
February 16, 2024
Norman Gene Davis left this world peacefully on February 16, 2024, at 87 years of age.
Funeral services was at 11 am Friday, March 15, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 1801 S. Valley View Road, Sioux Falls SD. Burial will be at Pleasant Lawn Cemetery, Geddes, SD at a later date.
Norm was born November 26, 1936, to James LeRoy (Mike) and Lenora Lena (Kramer) Davis in Naper, Nebraska. Norm grew up in Naper and played sports and graduated from Naper High School. He joined the Air Force in 1956 and served four years during which time he was deployed overseas. He was a jet mechanic and worked on F-100s.
Norm was united in marriage to Melva Jean Sip on June 23, 1962, and they lived in Bonesteel, SD where Norm operated the local Standard/Amoco gas station he also served as a volunteer fireman. The couple had three children while living in Bonesteel. Dwaine of Avon, SD, David (Marilee) of Brookings, SD, and DeAnne (Brad) Rechtenbaugh of Hartford, SD. They were also foster parents to several children through the years and adopted 2 of their foster sons, Derick Davis and Robert (Tara) Davis who both live in Sioux Falls.
The family moved to Hartford, SD in 1976. After raising the family in Hartford, Norm and Melva moved to Sioux Falls in the 1990s. Norm operated gas stations in Hartford and Sioux Falls and worked for many years as an overnight operator at Midwest Alarm Company.
Norm was a devout Christian and was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, bowling and sports of all types. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. He coached his sons for many years in youth baseball. In later years he especially loved watching his grandchildren play on local sports teams.
Norm is preceded in death by his mother and father, three sisters, (Donna (Carl) Ludemann, Sarah (Gerald) Schmitz, Joan Kaye Davis), and one brother John (Bobbi) Davis.
He is survived by his wife, his sons and daughter, nine grandchildren Jacob (Tegan) Davis, Julie Davis, Mychal (Maggie) Rechtenbaugh, Paige (Corey) Tice, Sydney (Tim) Magnuson, Jonah (Marta) Rechtenbaugh, Emma Davis, Tucker Davis and Kellen Davis) and seven great-grandchildren Cheza, Mason, Max, Cohen, Saylor, Ellis, and Blaire as well as a baby boy arriving in late May.
Miller Funeral Home Downtown, Sioux Falls, SD assisting with arrangements. For online obituary and guest register go to the website at www.millerfh.com.
Funeral arrangements were provided by Miller Funeral Home.