Norbert Zens
May 15, 1916 ~ February 22, 2010
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Norbert Zens, 93, of Miller, died Monday, February 22 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be Thursday, February 25 at St. Anns Catholic Church from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 Wake Service. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26 at St. Anns Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Anns Catholic Cemetery. Rembold Funeral Home of St. Lawrence has been entrusted with Norberts arrangements.
Norbert Zens was born May 15, 1916 at Epiphany, S.D. to Matt and Martha (Paradeis) Zens. Norbert grew up on a farm. At age 16 he hitch hiked a ride to Iowa to pick corn. He worked in Iowa for five years. He came back to finish school but heard about a butter Trade Maker Class at South Dakota State University. The class was a 3 month course and cost $100.00 which included books and everything. He never had a high school education but the Professor said he would give him a 3 week trial. He graduated from the class and heard of a job opening at Anderson Creamery in Miller, where he started working in 1936.
On August 13, 1940 he married Alfreda Faust. She died May 3rd 1988. To this union a son Roger was born. Norbert bought a small acreage at the edge of town and continued working at Anderson Creamery. In July 1946 he purchased Anderson Creamery. In 1963 he merged Anderson Creamery with Terrace Park Dairy and had six branches in western and central South Dakota. Thirty refrigerated trucks were on the road everyday delivering dairy products, frozen foods and Fenns Ice Cream to stores and restaurants. He later sold his business to Land O Lakes Dairy.
Norbert was the charter president of the Miller Lions Club when it was formed in May of 1960 and was an active member until his death. He was a member of the group that founded the South Dakota Lions Sight and Service Foundation and served as the first secretary. He was president of the foundation in 1966 when the land was bought and the building project began. Norbert was Zone and Regional Chairman in District 5 SW for several terms. He sponsored many to become Lions and took them under his wing and helped them to become good Lions members. He encouraged them to attend District, State, and Multi District 5 conventions. He attended many Multi District 5 Conventions in Saskatchewan, North and South Dakota. In 1964 Norbert and other Miller Lions attended the convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to support Al Schock who was a candidate for International Third Vice President. In the early years he was instrumental in getting the Christmas box program started and it is still going today. He has faithfully helped over the years. In 2008 he put a bag of apples he had grown in his orchard in each box. Norbert was looking forward to enjoying the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Miller Lions Club. His Catholic faith was a major part of his life and Norbert was very involved in his church. He voluntarily took care of St. Anns Cemetery for 44 years and still kept the records at the time of his death. He was on the building committee of St. Anns Catholic Church built in 1955 and dedicated in 1956. Norbert could always be counted on to help with any church project and in 2007 he was honored by St. Anns Altar Society as church Pioneer.
Norbert has been very active in the community. He was chairman of the project for Prairie Good Samaritan Home and the Miller Industrial Development in getting low income housing in Miller.
On July 13, 1992, Norbert married Vera Schmidt of Miller. They spent winters in Arizona and loved traveling and doing many things together. After his retirement Norbert spent much time in his garden and lovely orchard and he shared produce with many friends and relatives. He always found time to go fishing which he loved to do.
Norbert is survived by his wife Vera; son Roger and special friend JoAnn; granddaughter Gina Zens-Price; great-granddaughter Alicia (Chris) Manning, all of Miller; two brothers, Ambrose (Catherine) Zens of Epiphany, SD, Tony (Vera) Zens of Mitchell, SD; one sister, Mary (Clayton) Goodhope of Monrovia, CA; his extended family, Sharla (Scott) Worthen of Boise, ID, Mavis (Larry) Johnson of Huron, SD, and Daryl (Sandy) Schmidt of Rockham, SD; Sisters and Brothers in law, Agnes Smith and Iola Hansen both of Lewiston, ID, Wilfred (Marj) Faust of Miller, LaVerne (Shirley) Faust of Rapid City, SD, Berniece (Bill) Banman of Taylor, MI, Patricia (Delmar) Fawcett of Ree Heights, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Alfreda, parents, daughter in law Dotty Zens, grandson Roger Zens Jr., brother Clement Zens and two sisters in law Elsie and Leona Zens.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, 3710 S. Westport Ave. #B, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.
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Norbert Zens was born May 15, 1916 at Epiphany, S.D. to Matt and Martha (Paradeis) Zens. Norbert grew up on a farm. At age 16 he hitch hiked a ride to Iowa to pick corn. He worked in Iowa for five years. He came back to finish school but heard about a butter Trade Maker Class at South Dakota State University. The class was a 3 month course and cost $100.00 which included books and everything. He never had a high school education but the Professor said he would give him a 3 week trial. He graduated from the class and heard of a job opening at Anderson Creamery in Miller, where he started working in 1936.
On August 13, 1940 he married Alfreda Faust. She died May 3rd 1988. To this union a son Roger was born. Norbert bought a small acreage at the edge of town and continued working at Anderson Creamery. In July 1946 he purchased Anderson Creamery. In 1963 he merged Anderson Creamery with Terrace Park Dairy and had six branches in western and central South Dakota. Thirty refrigerated trucks were on the road everyday delivering dairy products, frozen foods and Fenns Ice Cream to stores and restaurants. He later sold his business to Land O Lakes Dairy.
Norbert was the charter president of the Miller Lions Club when it was formed in May of 1960 and was an active member until his death. He was a member of the group that founded the South Dakota Lions Sight and Service Foundation and served as the first secretary. He was president of the foundation in 1966 when the land was bought and the building project began. Norbert was Zone and Regional Chairman in District 5 SW for several terms. He sponsored many to become Lions and took them under his wing and helped them to become good Lions members. He encouraged them to attend District, State, and Multi District 5 conventions. He attended many Multi District 5 Conventions in Saskatchewan, North and South Dakota. In 1964 Norbert and other Miller Lions attended the convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to support Al Schock who was a candidate for International Third Vice President. In the early years he was instrumental in getting the Christmas box program started and it is still going today. He has faithfully helped over the years. In 2008 he put a bag of apples he had grown in his orchard in each box. Norbert was looking forward to enjoying the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Miller Lions Club. His Catholic faith was a major part of his life and Norbert was very involved in his church. He voluntarily took care of St. Anns Cemetery for 44 years and still kept the records at the time of his death. He was on the building committee of St. Anns Catholic Church built in 1955 and dedicated in 1956. Norbert could always be counted on to help with any church project and in 2007 he was honored by St. Anns Altar Society as church Pioneer.
Norbert has been very active in the community. He was chairman of the project for Prairie Good Samaritan Home and the Miller Industrial Development in getting low income housing in Miller.
On July 13, 1992, Norbert married Vera Schmidt of Miller. They spent winters in Arizona and loved traveling and doing many things together. After his retirement Norbert spent much time in his garden and lovely orchard and he shared produce with many friends and relatives. He always found time to go fishing which he loved to do.
Norbert is survived by his wife Vera; son Roger and special friend JoAnn; granddaughter Gina Zens-Price; great-granddaughter Alicia (Chris) Manning, all of Miller; two brothers, Ambrose (Catherine) Zens of Epiphany, SD, Tony (Vera) Zens of Mitchell, SD; one sister, Mary (Clayton) Goodhope of Monrovia, CA; his extended family, Sharla (Scott) Worthen of Boise, ID, Mavis (Larry) Johnson of Huron, SD, and Daryl (Sandy) Schmidt of Rockham, SD; Sisters and Brothers in law, Agnes Smith and Iola Hansen both of Lewiston, ID, Wilfred (Marj) Faust of Miller, LaVerne (Shirley) Faust of Rapid City, SD, Berniece (Bill) Banman of Taylor, MI, Patricia (Delmar) Fawcett of Ree Heights, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Alfreda, parents, daughter in law Dotty Zens, grandson Roger Zens Jr., brother Clement Zens and two sisters in law Elsie and Leona Zens.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, 3710 S. Westport Ave. #B, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.
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