Obituary

Norma Virden, age 99, passed away March 16, 2026. Norma was born on March 15, 1927 in Lee’s Summit Missouri, Prairie Township. She was raised in south Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Southwest High School. She met her soul mate in 1945, and they were married in 1949 after Bill Virden returned from active service in the Philippine Islands.

Norma was an active member of the Lutheran church, Mo. Synod. She was on the committee that established a new congregation in south Kansas City, Missouri. She was also active in community affairs. She wrote articles for The Country Squire and won several awards for articles and stories in the Model T Times. She helped Bill and others to establish a Kansas City chapter of The Model T Ford International.

Bill and Norma restored a house built in 1863 which was placed on the historic register. They then built a log home in Norma’s birthplace, Lee’s Summit.

Bill left to wait for Norma in their heavenly home in 2005 and Norma went to reside with her daughter, Jan Banks, in Gainesville, Florida in 2014. She leaves her sister Rita Todd of Green Ridge, Missouri, her daughter Jan Banks and her son Mark Virden and wife Mary in Overland Park, Kansas, grandsons Dustin Banks and Jim Schlaman, granddaughters Jaclyn Riley and Ara Hall along with 5 nieces and nephews. She lived a long and fruitful life and always believed that the roles she played for our Lord was her greatest blessing.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.