Norma Jean (Loops) Bolding
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Norma Jean (Loops) Bolding of Milo, Missouri passed away on November 11, 2025, after a brief illness. Though she preferred not to have her “mortal coil severed” (as she put it), she was able to die peacefully in hospice with family at her side.
The youngest of three, this little firecracker was born on May 15, 1946, in Hotchkiss, Colorado, to Walter and Lorene Loops. She lived in Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Alaska in her younger years.
Norma met Robert “Bob” Bolding in 1965. They married within months and had 2 kids a few years later, living in Wyoming and Nebraska before settling in Blue Springs, Missouri. She worked as a paralegal for law firms and ultimately the EPA on Superfund cases; schlepped kids to/from activities; and did everything possible to avoid cooking.
She was a fun mom to grow up with. How many other moms will expertly run over a maraschino cherry in their Datsun just to prove their driving prowess?! She brought home stray dogs, hid her car from her husband after ripping the door off its hinges while exiting the garage, nursed limp plants back to life and found time for causes she was passionate about. Case in point: organizing a grassroots effort to help pass a local tax levy that provided more funding to the public library.
After her divorce in the early 90s, she built a small home on some acreage in Milo, Missouri. Her paycheck funded trips to Israel, Australia, Italy, France and England. When she retired in the mid-90s, she moved to “Moss Hollow Farm” (her sanctuary in the woods) and got some chickens and goats. She spent a couple of days a week watching her grandkids in the KC area, an experience she absolutely treasured.
A lifelong learner, Norma devoured books and documentaries on different cultures, animals, places, architecture, people, anything really –– it was rare to find a subject she didn’t know much about. With an eye for interior design, she repurposed thrift store finds into magazine-worthy living spaces. She dabbled in poetry, art, furniture making and photography. Always looking for a bargain, Norma would cart home pallets of unknown items that she’d bid on at auctions, marveling at her treasures (such as 10,000 house numbers that she had absolutely no use for).
She loved A&W Root Beer and watching Skinwalker Ranch on DISH Network. She enjoyed sharing a yogurt with Maxwell (her cat) and playing with one-eyed Spot (her other cat). If you asked Norma how she was doing, she’d reply “nearly perfect in every way.” Norma was adored for her quick wit and frequently left people chortling at her clever comebacks. When one guy told her she needed a man to handle a repair she was about to undertake, she replied: “No, thanks. I don’t need a man to screw this up. I can screw this up all by myself.”
She asked her children to sprinkle some of her ashes near her former husband (although “preferably not too close”) and to throw a few handfuls in her favorite places.
Norma is survived by a lot of people who love her deeply: Kimberly Robe of Colorado Springs (daughter); Bryan and Margo Bolding of Greenwood, MO (son and daughter-in-law); three grandkids (Hailey Robe, Eli Bolding and Chloe Robe); Lester and Janet Loops (brother and sister-in-law); and many dear friends, including Joyce and Malita. She’s off to join her parents (Walter and Lorene Loops), brother (James Loops) and ex-husband Bob Bolding, who is probably wondering what took her so long.
A small, private celebration of life will be held with her close friends and family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests planting a memorial tree (potentially through shop.arborday.org/trees-in-memory) or donating to a favorite charity.
I loved my aunt Norma. I am really going to miss the sound of her voice and the little hee hee hee that came after every witty retort. I am so glad we got to catch up recently through the Friday Funnies. May you rest in peace but not until you give Bob some hell for me. There is no doubt that their humor as individuals and as a couple shaped me as a young man and sharpened my wit. I will miss them both dearly but probably not equally. Goodbye Norma. I love you.
I was so lucky to grow up next to Norma and Jim! She took my senior pictures, let me look at all her treasures and told me many stories of her travels. Really became more than just a neighbor to the family, she was family. She was loving and kind and welcoming. To know her was to love her and she will be missed.
I loved growing up by Norma and Jim, they were such great neighbors! She also took my senior pictures, pictures at my 1st wedding and taught me a lot about photography! She let me use her “fancy” camera when I was young once and I have such a special memory of that. She would hire us to house sit when she was away and I was always afraid something would happen to one of her plants (I do not have a green thumb!). She cared about my sister, Allison and I, and we loved visiting her. She will be missed!
Spending time with my cousins and family(which was neighbors to Norma) I got to know her. She had the biggest smile and always waved going by if she saw us. She was the sweetest.
My Aunt Norma lit up the room! She was so smart, cheerful and fun you wanted to be near her! She always had a smile and made you feel good about yourself. She was a genuinely happy person and I will miss her. I love you Aunt Norma.
Norma was my sister-in-law and more. We were astrological twins and were both born on the same day back in 1946. Once when we were 19 she drove me across town for an appointment. We were running late. As we drove quickly hitting all yellow lights she said, “I’ll keep my eyes on the road ahead and you keep looking for cars piled up behind us.” She was so funny and so very smart. My brother is probably overjoyed to see her. I will miss her little laugh and funny quips. I Love you, My Sister..
Norma was always a ball of energy and fun to be around. Never will forget a night she stayed over and slept on my sister’s bed, which was uncommonly high, and her saying she was afraid to use the bathroom in the middle of the night because she was afraid she couldn’t get back up. Or the family story of her getting caught (as a young girl) by Grandma Brown biting herself so she could get Jimmy in trouble. She was always full of life and will be missed.
Norma, words will never express how welcoming, non judgmental and hilarious you have always been. There are many of your jokes that I have put in my pocket and repeat to people often to this day. You have left this world, but not my heart. Until we laugh together again, rest easy.
I didn’t get to meet Norma very often; I don’t quite know the relation I hold to her, I think we fall under shoestring relatives. But I have wonderful memories from when I was very young of travelling to Missouri to meet her and Lorene, just to visit and be with family. She always seemed like the kindest person, and I deeply wish I could have seen her when I was older, outside of such long distance infrequencies. My heart is with the relatives I don’t know who are surely most feeling this loss. Looking around here, it sounds and looks like to me that her life was filled with love. And at the end of the day, isn’t that all you can ask for? 🙂
I still remember when Uncle Walt and Aunt Lorene came to visit us when my father, Jack Brown, was stationed in Oak Harbor, WA. Along for the ride came my cousin Norma Jean and Jenny (donkey, burro, etc.) I believe there is a picture of me and Norma Jean on Jenny’s back getting a ride, loved it! I will never forget the trip I took with my cousin, Nellie Ann, we got to spend some time with Norma Jean at her place while doing some genealogy research. She always had a smile on her face and a funny tale for the whole time we were there.
I wish we had the time to visit with more of the family, her absence will be felt for a very long time. May the good Lord bless all her family and loved ones.