"And God Made A Farmer"

Norman Warren Willson, age 84, longtime Colfax area farmer and equipment dealer, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Courtyard in Colfax from Parkinson's disease. He was born March 19, 1931 at the family farm to William and Mary Kate (Hall) Willson. He grew up on the farm and attended country school and graduated from Steptoe High School in 1949. He attended EWSC in Cheney for two years and due to his father's health he came home to farm with his brother Bill. He married Joan Wilhelm on his 24th birthday, March 19, 1955 and they made their home on the family farm in the Green Hollow area. Norman had a love of machinery and started a used equipment business, Norm Willson Tractor & Parts. He was also proud to be a partner in Arrow Machinery with 3 of his friends. Flying airplanes was another interest in Norm's life for many years. He was proud to have ridden on the Concorde with one of his best friends. In 1969-70 he was exalted ruler of the Colfax Elks Lodge. He was proud to be an Elk. Norm was a member of the Colfax Gun Club and in 1963 he won the Inland Empire Trapshooting Handicap. Hunting in the fall at the Willson ranch was a big event. Friends came from Seattle, Canada and the local area. It was said, "Riding in a jeep with Norm, pursuing a deer, was the scariest ride they ever took, but the prize was worth it." For some, it was the high-light of the year. Norm had a love of sports all his life. He played all sports in school and loved to watch and cheer on his family and friends children until he could no longer go to the games. He was proud to be part of a great group of guys that built McDonald Park. He on his bulldozer pushed the first dirt for the park. When his flying days were over, he bought an RV and he and Joan traveled all over the USA with many friends, usually ending up in the Southern states for the winter. He also loved spending time at his cabin on Coeur d'Alene Lake with family and friends. The lake is where he felt he could really put the "F" in fun. Norm was proud to be a 13 gallon blood donor and was well known at the blood bank for his O Negative blood. He was one of the original board members of the Bank of Whitman and served on the board of Palouse Producers. He was also a 50 + years member of the Steptoe Grange. Norman is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan, at their Colfax home; 3 children, Terry and husband Daryl Koch of Spokane, Steve and wife Laurie Willson of Liberty Lake and Julie and husband Bob Sevedge of Colfax; his five grandchildren that he lovingly referred to as "his fab five", Stacia Schenk, Sarah Sevedge, Brad Russell, Chris Willson and Samantha Sevedge; 4 great-grandchildren, Poppy and Aston Schenk, Lincoln Sevedge, Eli Willson and another one on the way; he is also survived by his sister, LaVonne Mader of Hermiston, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Mary Jane Woodruff, Bill Willson, Nana Lou Harwood, Beverly Hale, Barbara Weaver and Richard Willson. Norman will be laid to rest at a private inurnment burial at 11:00 am on March 19, 2016 at the Bethel Cemetery in Steptoe. The public is invited to a catered luncheon at 12:30 at the Hill-Ray Plaza in Colfax to celebrate his life and his 85th birthday on that day. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to McDonald Park (checks should be made out to City of Colfax and include Norm Willson/McDonald Park on memo line) c/o P.O. Box 229, Colfax, WA 99111, Plymouth Congregational Church, 321 S. Main, Colfax, WA. 99111, or to the Colfax EMT's, P.O. Box 226, Colfax, WA. 99111.
Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is caring for the family.