Norma Kathleen (McFarland) Smeby, 95, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Hidden Creek Assisted Living.

Norma was born Sept. 2, 1919, the daughter of Hazel (Nielsen) and Elmer McFarland near Mentor, Minnesota. On Dec. 22, 1940, she was united in marriage to George Norman Smeby at the First United Methodist Church in Austin. George and Norma had four children. They farmed together 40 years before retiring and moving to Austin.

Norma was an elementary school teacher at various country schools and the Albert Lea Public School system. She completed her Master’s Degree in Education. Her passions were reading, traveling, crafts, and spending time with family. She was an active member of Moscow Lutheran Church, participating in quilting, altar guild, Faith Circle, Bible Study, Ladies Aid and church suppers. She and George had a strong faith, which they passed along to their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Norma is survived by her four children: Kathleen (Virgil) Asbury of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kent (Betty) Smeby of Austin, Minnesota, Kraig (Doris) Smeby of Rockford, Minnesota, and Keith (Connie) Smeby of St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren: Teri Asbury, Jeffrey (Sandra) Asbury and Jay Asbury, Kimberly (Steven) Zenk, Kristene (William) Wilkie, Kurt (Cynthia) Smeby, Timothy (Debra) Smeby, Jane (Kean) Corkery, Jennifer Nixon, Jackie (Dwane) Veney, Joel (Jenni) Smeby, Jarrett (Beth) Smeby, and Jonathan Troy Smeby; great-grandchildren: Lindsey and Tyler Asbury, Timothy (Katrina) Zenk, Katherine (Christopher) Hebblewhite, Jillian (Brent) Tweed, Adam Wilkie, Kevin, Kendra, and Kallie Smeby, Alexa and Raquel Smeby, McKone, Seamus, and Flannagan Corkery, Joseph and Andrew Nixon, Deontae and Jayden Veney; great-great-grandchildren: Addison, Steven, Isaac, Amelia, Clara and Henry Zenk, and Kari Hebblewhite; sister Joan (Stanley) Stanek; sisters-in-law: Mary Ellen McFarland and Janet Bothun; and many nieces and nephews.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her grandchildren: Jonathan Lee Smeby, Tanya Asbury, and Trevor Smeby; her sister Marna Nelson; and her brother Dr. Keith McFarland.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Moscow Lutheran Church, rural Austin with the Rev. Matthew Williams officiating. Interment will be at Moscow Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary in Austin, and at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service.

Blessed be her memory.