Floyd Norris

Floyd Raymond Norris passed away on Friday, September 15, 2023, in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 94 years, one month, and eighteen days.

He was born on July 28, 1929, in North Vernon, Indiana to Edward Sr. and Ida (Onderstal) Norris. Less than one year old and with the onset of the Great Depression, his parents returned the family to the Sioux City, IA vicinity to be closer to relatives. At the age of five, he was hit by a car and while lying in a coma at the hospital, he contracted meningitis. He awoke several months later with a fractured vertebrae, complete deafness, and the loss of one eye.  Fortunately, he regained the ability to walk and led an active childhood. He attended both the Iowa and South Dakota Schools for the Deaf and graduated from SDSD in 1949. He took a few college courses in writing and mathematics while working at the loading docks of Chesterman’s 7-Up & Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Sioux City, IA. Throughout the mid to late 1950’s, he worked for the Mayflower Van Lines and later the Nutrena Feed Company.

On November 8, 1958, he married Donna J. O’Connor in Sioux City, IA and they farmed briefly near Hubbard, Nebraska. For the next 18 years, they moved to several locations throughout Iowa where he worked in various positions – primarily as a butcher, baker, and printer. In 1976, he moved his family to Sioux Falls, SD and worked at a meat packing plant. Due to another serious back injury, he stopped working full-time in 1978. He spent the next six years as a part-time shoe salesman before retiring altogether in 1984. From 2007-2019, he resided with his son and daughter-in-law in Sioux Falls and then due to declining health, moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing homes in Lennox and then Sioux Falls.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church for the Deaf, the South Dakota Association of the Deaf, the Deaf Senior Citizens Club and several other organizations over the years. He enjoyed playing cards and games, spending time with family and friends, watching professional sports and Notre Dame football, discussing politics and world events and most of all, storytelling and reminiscing.

He was preceded in death by his precious and beloved wife, Donna in 2001; his parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Emma and Vick Vanderwarka; a brother and his wife, Edward Jr. and Sue Norris; another brother and his wife, George and Ruth Norris; two nephews, Randy Norris and Ray Vanderwarka; a niece, Sharon Vanderwarka-Baskett; a son-in-law, Bruce Anderson; and an infant child. 

Grateful for having shared his life are his three children: Katy (Doug) Lerch of Madison, WI; Deb Anderson of San Antonio, TX; and Rick (Lisa) Norris of Sioux Falls, SD. Seven grandchildren: Jeremy (Marisa) Anderson of Boston, MA; Jamie (Eric) Hanssen of San Antonio, TX; Ryan and Brendon Lerch, both of Dallas, TX; and Shay, Kyja Min and Rykr Norris of Sioux Falls, SD. Six great-granddaughters: Sophia Anderson of Boston, MA; and Chloe Castillo, Makkayla Anderson, Deborah Wilson, Victoria Johnson and Rileyah Hanssen – all of San Antonio, TX; along with numerous nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends.