Norma J. Leis, age 90, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, peacefully entered the arms of Jesus on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Scottsbluff. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 6, 2026, at Reverence Funeral Parlor in Scottsbluff with Pastor Andrew Griess officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, July 5, at the funeral parlor. Memorials may be made to the Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home. The service will be livestreamed and recorded on Norma’s obituary page, viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.
Norma was born March 24, 1936, on the family farm in Minatare to Reinhold B. “Reinne” and Marie (Sauer) Schwartz. She attended Minatare High School, graduating with the class of 1954.
Norma was united in marriage to Leonard L. Leis on September 30, 1956, and to this union four children were born: Tammy, Michael, David, and Danny. They made their home on the family farm. Norma was a devoted homemaker and also worked part-time at House of Weddings for many years.
Norma took great care in tending her flower gardens, enjoying her vegetable gardens, and harvesting and freezing sweet corn every year. She also took pleasure in cutting rhubarb and picking German blackberries to prepare her favorite jellies and pies. In addition to gardening, she enjoyed scrapbooking. Each year, she and Leonard happily anticipated their summer trips to the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado. One of her greatest joys was following her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and supporting them at every event.
She always enjoyed having fried shrimp when dining out at nice restaurants. At family gatherings, she loved seeing everyone enjoy her three-layer chocolate cream dessert. For many years, Norma continued the family tradition of making cabbage burgers and German thin noodles for Thanksgiving. Her chocolate granola blondies were the best!
She was a lifelong member of Salem Congregational Church, where she taught Sunday school and AWANA for over fifty years. Additionally, Norma was a member of the Christian Women’s Club Board and volunteered on the funeral dinner committee.
Mom loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved her family fiercely and prayed for each and every one of them daily. We will miss her deeply. Her legacy lives on in the memories we will cherish. We will carry her with us always. She was deeply loved and will never be forgotten
Survivors include her daughter, Tammy Schliening (Stan); sons, Michael (Tami), David and Danny Leis (Anne Ferin-Leis); grandchildren, Brittany Payne (Bryan), Stephanie Irvine (Kyle), Alexandra Salazar (Mike), Jordan Leis (Nicki) and Grace Leis; great grandchildren, Kaden, Kolton, and Olivia Irvine, and Cooper and Harper Page; sister, Barbara Van Winkle; sister-in-law, Charlene Schwartz; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Reinhold “Reinne” and Marie Schwartz; husband, Leonard L. Leis; brother, Reinhold L. “Junior” Schwartz; and brother-in-law, Gary Van Winkle.
