Norman H. Mills passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at the Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care in Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 86. He was born on March 16, 1930 in the Bowcreek Township of rural Sheridan County to the late Paul N. and Ruth (Mowry) Mills. He grew up attending Bowcreek Elementary School before graduating from Sheridan Community High School with the class of 1947.
Upon graduation, Norman took over the family farm that his grandparents established, and is now recognized as a “Century Farm.” Over his lifetime he developed an excellent cattle program, served as a board member for Ness City Federal Land Bank and the Sheridan County Soil Conservation District, received an award for the highest yielding corn crop in Kansas, and together with Albert Mills created and developed the Tri-Flex flexible sweep tool which is still used in farming operations today. He continued farming and ranching until his retirement and move to Hoxie.
Norman enjoyed fishing. He was a lifelong faithful member of the Church of Christ having been baptized into the family of God in 1943. He was a wonderful Bible and Sunday School teacher with many of his students commenting how much they learned from him. He loved his family, and although he had no children of his own, his nieces and nephews were always very special to him.
Norman is survived by his brother Lloyd Mills and wife Veryl of Enid, OK; sister Lorraine Coulter of Hoxie; sister-in-law Nadine Mills of Hoxie; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Ruth Mills, brother Albert Mills, niece Vicki Mills, and brother-in-law Edwin Coulter.
A funeral service was held at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie. Burial will follow at Lucerne Cemetery. Visitation was from 1:00-8:00pm on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the funeral home. Family received friends from 5:30-7:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:30am until service time on Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the Hoxie Church of Christ, Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care Unit, or the Phillipsburg Hospice and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, KS 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.
Norman spent his life being a good steward of the land, raising his cattle and loving God, family, friends, and neighbors. He was loved and will be missed, but we rejoice as he has reached that heavenly home on high, where he hears the Great Rancher say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” At last he has received eternal rest with God in happiness, peace, and love.