Norman Laverne Zimmer, 75, of Marmarth, ND, passed away on Monday, June 26, 2017, at his home in Marmarth.

Memorial Services for Norman will be Friday, July 7, 2017, at 11:00 am at the Marmarth Bible Church. Pastor Norman Rice will officiate with burial following at Riverside Cemetery in Marmarth, ND.

Normie was born in Ekalaka, MT, on August 20, 1942, the son of Shirley Warkins and Frank Zimmer. Around age 6, Normie's grandparents, Norman and Vera Warkins, became his guardians.

Normie attended school in Ekalaka off and on until the age of 20. He worked for many local farmers and ranchers in the Ekalaka area.
In 1969 at the age of 27, Normie married Joanne Ruth Schutte of Pigeon Michigan. They were married until 1970.

Normie was hired by a custom combine crew in the 70's. He traveled and worked with them until 1984. While working with the combine crew, Normie met Patricia (Patsy) Rocki in Hamilton, TX. They married February 4, 1978.

In 1984, Normie and Patsy returned to Montana. They lived in Miles City, Ekalaka and Baker. Normie and Patsy purchased a home in Marmarth, ND, in the late 80's. Normie and Patsy shared their life together until Patsy became ill and moved to a nursing home in Dickinson, ND. Patsy passed away in 2012.

Normie was a hard worker and he had many jobs helping numerous farmers and ranchers, mowing lawns, raking, and fencing. In the 90's, he was employed at the Pastime in Marmarth, ND.

Normie always had a smile on his face. He lived life happy and simple. Normie enjoyed playing the accordion (he was self-taught), collecting coins, Coca Cola and taking in homeless cats to care for. Normie made many friends throughout his life. Many of them gave him rides to and from Baker, Ekalaka, Marmarth and Miles City. The man standing on Highway 12 was not a hitchhiker, it was NORMIE.