Norman Duane Hiebert
Born: July 22, 1943
Place: Goessel, Kansas
MOTHER:
Sara Janzen
FATHER:
Paul M. Hiebert
SIBLINGS:
Donald Paul Hiebert
Mary Lou Hiebert
Johnnie Lee Hiebert
Bonnie Sue Hiebert
SPOUSE:
Marcia Diann Klaassen
Married: August 22, 1964
Place: Goessel, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Michael Dean Hiebert
Lonell Thayne Hiebert
Deena Denette Hiebert
BIOGRAPHY
Norman Duane Hiebert was born on July 22, 1943 to Paul and Sara Hiebert at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel, Kansas. He grew up on a farm south of Goessel with his two brothers and two sisters. Growing up, he got the nickname “Yee-Dit” which means George in German (his grandma thought he resembled his Uncle George Janzen). Living on a farm, there were many chores to do. Norm had to wake up before school to do many of his chores with included milking and feeding the cows, gathering eggs, working on the field, plowing, spring toothing, bucking bales, and many more. An allowance was not part of the Hiebert household, although Norm remembered that during harvest time, each child would receive a little money. Some of the crops they planted were wheat, corn, milo, oats, alfalfa and prairie hay. They raised and slaughtered their own cows and hogs. Every year Norm’s dad gave his children a calf and they would raise it on their own. The family also had guineas, ducks, rabbits, cats, dogs, and two work horses. They made their own butter and cottage cheese and sold eggs and cream. Norm had to learn how to drive at the early age of about ten because his dad needed him to work in the fields.
When Norm was growing up his mother stayed home with the children although later she cleaned houses for people. Norm remembers his mom, Sara, as a good gardener and a great cook. While the boys mostly wore store bought clothes, Sara sewed some dresses for the girls. During Norm’s childhood, his father, Paul worked with the lumberyard in Goessel.
Growing up, indoor plumbing was not an option for the Hiebert family, so everyone used the outhouse. If they needed water, they had to get a bucket and pump it. Baths came about once a week since getting and warming the water was such a long process. Saturday night was bath night and during the summer, they would bathe on the porch. During the winter months, the “Boot-ti-kick” or outdoor kitchen would be where everyone would bathe. The whole family would use the same bath water; usually letting the youngest go first.
Since they didn’t have a refrigerator, food would be kept in a tin box that would be lowered in the well to keep it cool. The family got their water from a well and Norm remembers that it was always plentiful. During the summer, the house would get too hot to cook inside, so they cooked their meals in the “Boot-ti-kick” which was separate from the house. This small outdoor kitchen had a south door and a north door, which they kept open so the wind would blow through. Norm remembers his mom would get excited to paint the floor white with a gray design on top.
Even though Norm was born during WWII and times were sometimes tough, he never remembers not having enough food to eat. He shared the southwest room in their farmhouse with his older brother Don. Their room on the second floor had a door that led out onto the balcony. His favorite toys were his bike and his 12-gauge shotgun. The family didn’t have a television until after Norm left home. He remembered making cat parachutes with his brother Don. They would use bailing twine to piece together a parachute with a harness, strap in an unsuspecting cat and throw them off the silo. He said when you first let them go, their feet stick straight out to all four sides, and then they start paddling like crazy. When they hit the ground, they would just be running 100 mph.
Norm’s parents always told the kids to not climb the silo. One time after his parents left, Norm and Don climbed all the way to the top. All of sudden, they saw their dad’s old 38 Chevy coming down the road, so they high-tailed down the ladder. Don went first and Norm followed, but soon stepped on Don’s fingers. Don let go, hit his chin on a step and fell all the way to the ground. He ended up with a huge gash on his jaw but their parents didn’t see what happened. Don walked around with his shoulder shrugged up against his chin for a whole day so they wouldn’t get it trouble. He actually needed stitches, but since he waited so long, there was nothing they could do about it. He still has that scar to this day.
Norm attended Emmenthal School one mile west of his home and during recess played games like 23 Eskadoo, Johnny Can’t Cross My River, and baseball. In school Norm’s favorite subject was art and he really enjoyed drawing. He participated in baseball, basketball, and did pole vault in their school track and field day. They would travel to Gordon Grade School to compete and have lunch. They got a treat of an ice cream bar for dessert and watch the Little Rascals movie (with no sound). Gordon Grade School is also where they went to get their smallpox vaccinations.
School attire usually was overalls or jeans. Everyone rode bike to school, until later when Norm got a scooter, then he rode that. To keep cool in the summer they would go swimming in the creek after the rainwater had filled it up. As he got older he enjoyed hanging out with his friends from Moundridge, working on cars and drag races. Trends during his high school years consisted of leather jackets, Bryl creamed hair, high school letter jackets and class rings which boys would give to their sweethearts. Girls would wrap string around it to make it fit on their finger or their would wear in on a chain around their neck. Lee’s Service Station on Highway 15 was a favorite hangout for Norm and his friends. In high school Norm played the trumpet (although he says he never really learned) and liked playing around on the guitar and bass guitar. He also enjoyed playing basketball and one time injured his knee pretty seriously. He remembered going into Doc Ratzlaff’s office several times to have fluid drained.
During the Vietnam War, Norman received his draft papers in the mail. He remembered driving to Kansas City for his medical physical. Before he left, he called Marcia at school. Marcia remembered being called out of class, which they almost never did back then. Norman told her that he might have to go into service and since he wasn’t sure how long he’d be gone, he asked if he could marry her before he left. Luckily, because of his previous basketball injury, he was classified as a 4F and wasn’t forced to go.
When I asked Norm to name a good friend that he has known for the longest period of time, he pointed to his wife, Marcia. They knew each other from little on because their parents were friends. They also attended Emmenthal Grade School together. Norm remembers his first date with Marcia was at the Dairy Inn in Hillsboro, Kansas. Earlier that night, they were at his brother Don’s wedding party and Norm asked Marcia if he could take her to Hillsboro for a cherry Coke. Her parent’s said it would be okay if he had her home by 10:30 p.m. They continued to date and later Norm asked Marcia for her hand in marriage. They remember shopping for a ring together at Epp Jewelers in North Newton. After Marcia graduated from high school, they were married on August 22, 1964. They honeymooned in Topeka, Kansas for three days and they remember climbing all the way to the top of the Capital Building (which they don’t let you do anymore). They had all of $75 when they went on their honeymoon. Marcia remembered the Norm paid $25 for a television, which they took to their new home in Hutchinson. Fifty-five dollars a month is what they paid for rent. A year later, they moved into a home that used to be a train refrigerator boxcar in Goessel, Kansas. They paid only $50 a month for rent and their air conditioning bill was only three dollars. In April of 1967, they moved to their present home 2 ½ miles south of Goessel. Marcia was still in the hospital after having their first born, Michael, when they decided to move everything into the new house.
As an adult, Norm enjoys flying his ultralight, fishing and deer hunting. Currently he has seven grandchildren; one grandson and six granddaughters (with one more on the way). His grandkids love to go to Grandpa’s house because they know they will get lots of attention from him and Grandma. They’ll also get to blow bubbles, eat ice cream bars, get three wheeler and golf cart rides, watch Grandpa fly, tip over in the rocker with Papa (he tipped over with granddaughter Eden when she was really little, and she still won’t let Grandpa rock her!), play ball, eat deer jerky and deer sausage, play little German games like Butz-kup, and all kinds of fun things! He is a wonderful father and grandfather.
