Norine Wahl, 91, went to be with her Lord on July 21, 2021. She was born on August 4, 1929 in Neligh, Nebraska to Raymond Clifford and Helen Francis Bennett.
Norine was raised Mormon until she married at 16, moved to Oklahoma, and joined her husband’s Free Will Baptist Church.
Norine had met William “Bill” Wahl while he was in the Army Air Force stationed in Nebraska. Bill said Norine was swinging around a lamp pole and it was love at first sight. They celebrated 49 years of marriage before Bill passed in 1995.
Norine was so talented. Before she married, she was asked to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but her mother did not want her to move away from home.
Besides her beautiful voice, Norine enjoyed playing the piano and the steel guitar. Her father, Ray, playing the violin, her aunt Eva, playing the guitar, and Norine, playing the steel guitar, would sit on the back porch and play. People would stop their cars along the highway that ran by their house, to listen to them play. Highway patrols would stop to listen.
Norine was also skilled at her favorite hobbies, which were painting, crocheting and knitting. She would do anything for you. If she was busy, she would stop what she was doing and help you.
Everyone loved Norine’s smile. She never met a stranger. One of her daughter’s boyfriends asked if they ever broke up, could he still come by to see her mother.
Norine is survived by her four daughters, Ginger Bowerman of Sapulpa, Billie Ratliff and husband Ronnie of Chouteau, Patti Wahl of Sapulpa, Pam Yocham and husband David of Mounds, a sister, Donna Sayer, 5 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends. Norine will be greatly missed.
Norine was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, Raymond and Helen Bennett, her brother, Wayne Bennett, sister-in-law Pat Bennett, son-in-law Ron Bowerman, and brother-in-law Bill Sayer.
Norine was a long-time member of West Side Free Will Baptist Church.
Viewing for family and friends will be at Smith Funeral Home in Sapulpa,OK, Sunday, July 25 2pm-4pm
Funeral will be at West Side Free Will Baptist Church Monday, July 26 @ 2pm
Burial will be at Sunrise Cemetery Kellyville, OK
