Obituary of Norma Applegate

Norma Thieman Applegate, otherwise know as Grandma Apples to her 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, knew how to enjoy life. She brought others the gift of her laughter every where she went. Her home was always open to countless boys and girls who were fortunate enough to be friends of her children and grandchildren. Many of these developed a special affection for their adopted "Mom". Norma was the darling and precocious daughter of Paul and Gladys Thieman. She was the apple of her parent's eye, and spoiled by all, including her older brother, Paul Jr and cousin Chuck Spillman. As a young lady, Norma was an accomplished ice-skater and enjoyed playing the accordion. She had a love for animals, especially her Palomino Flicka and her many dogs, and bird, "Baby". While attending the University of Tulsa, Norma belonged to the Kappa Delta Sorority and was crowned Rose Queen. There she met her first husband, Donald L. Hansen. Norma and Don raised four children in the Holiday Hills neighborhood of South Tulsa. Night-time games of tag and shrieks of laughter with the neighborhood kids filled the air on 59th Street. Norma's home was always a boisterous noisy gathering place, giving her kids and their cousins, neighbors and friends a place to hang out, play pool, and listen to music. She taught several to drive a stick shift on her Firebird. To make Christmas special for her children she picked pecans from the farm and sold them. Norma also began a candle making adventure with her best friend Alice King. This adventure ended abruptly when she nearly burned the King's garage down. On the weekends and in the summer she and Don would load up all their kids and usually a few extra and make the long drive down the 71st Street dirt road to their farm in Wagoner County. Many young people had their first experience with life on the farm with Don and Norma. Norma worked hard on the farm along side her family raising Angus cattle, driving a tractor or farm truck in hay hauling season. Her education at the University of Tulsa, where she majored in botany was evident as she created bountiful vegetable gardens and began raising orchids. Not long after she and Don divorced, Norma was introduced by Tony Heineman to an old WWII buddy of his Dad's and eventually married George Joseph Applegate of Bentonville, Arkansas. "Joe", a well know pharmacist, was both very reserved but had a wild side which Norma quickly taught to tow the line. They enjoyed life together traveling, boating, and offering their home and swimming pool as gathering place for family and friends. Norma helped to raise many of her grandchildren and gave Joe the gift of family. It was during this time that Norma became adept at raising orchids. Her greenhouse was loaded with fragrant blooming orchids year round and it helped her unwind from the chaos of the world. Norma was the primary care giver for her mother, her Aunt Carma, and Joe's mother Blanche. She also volunteered at the Saint Francis Hospital Cancer Care Center and enjoyed swapping stories of children, and orchids over a cup of coffee with good friend, Ethel Goldberg . In 1997, one month after loosing Joe, Norma had a stroke that left her disabled. The past 10 years, in spite of her disabilities, Norma has gifted all who have come to know her the blessing of smiles, love, and laughter. Even though her speech was very limited, she could always manage to say "I love you" and "Thank you". She had the best of care from her family, and staff at Forest Hills Nursing Center and Montereau Nursing Center and her physicians, Dr. Fred McNeer, Dr. Lance King and Dr. Arvid Lade. The family extends gratitude to all of those people who took such good care of her. Norma left this life for heaven, April 14, 2007. She died from complications of another stroke and pneumonia. Norma endured living with Type 2 diabetes and all its complications for 27 years. She was very upset when her grandson Eric Hansen was diagnosed with Type 1 or Juvenile diabetes. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 4606 E. 67th, Suite 214, Tulsa, OK 74136, in her honor. She is survived by her daughters: Vicki Hansen Karney and her husband Kip and Cheryl Leavitt of Tulsa; her sons: Donald L. Hansen, Jr. and his wife Jocelyn, Carl D. Hansen and his wife Val both of Tulsa and Greg Applegate of New York; 15 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren. Services: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at the Redeemer Covenant Church, 5415 E. 101st. Ninde Funeral Directors, Woodland Chapel (250-55560) www.ninde.com