Norma Ruth Wendelburg, 98, died July 26, 2016. She was born March 26, 1918, in rural Stafford, to Henry and Anna Louise (Moeckel) Wendelburg.

A gifted composer and pianist, Norma graduated from Bethany College before earning master's degrees in music and music theory at the University of Michigan in 1947 and from Eastman School of Music in New York in 1951. The recipient of two Fulbright Fellowships, she completed post graduate studies in Salzburg, Austria, at the Mozarteum and at the Vienna Academy of Music before obtaining her doctorate in Music Composition from the Eastman School of Music in 1969.

Norma was a lifelong teacher, beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Stafford County and elementary school in Hill City. She was a faculty member at Wayne State College, Northern Iowa University, Hardin-Simmons University, Southwest Texas State University, Dallas Baptist College, and Friends College. In addition to composing music, Norma also taught piano lessons for many years. She was active in the Union Valley Bible Church and Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship outreach, visiting and corresponding with many prisoners at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. She was a member of ASCAP, American Women Composers, and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Norma is survived by: her sister, Betty Minnick; brother-in-law, Jerome Minnick; sisters-in-law, Evangeline Wendelburg, Zelma Lee Wendelburg, and Eunice Wendelburg; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Edwin, Albert, and Robert; and her sister, AnnaBell "Wendy" Zeigler.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2016, at Union Valley Bible Church, with Pastor Steve Hodgson officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. in Stafford Cemetery, Stafford. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be made to Union Valley Bible Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.