May 13, 1939 - April 11, 2025
Norene Jean Elsbecker, 85 of Algona, passed away on April 11, 2025, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic parish — St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. Inurnment will take place at a later date at River View Cemetery in Algona. Visitation was Tuesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona. Services were entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home in Algona.
Norene Jean Nieuwenhuis, the daughter of William and Geneva (Reekers) Nieuwenhuis, was born on May 13, 1939, on the family farm in Hospers. She attended Archer Community Schools. She was active in cheerleading and 6-on-6 girls basketball. She started dating Gary DeBoom at age 15. They later married and had four children together. They divorced after 14 years of marriage. Norene met Richard Elsbecker in 1974. They were united in marriage on Feb. 26, 1975, at the Minnehaha Courthouse in Sioux Falls, S.D.
She worked various jobs in the Algona area. She and Dick wintered in Arizona for 24 winters. Since Dicks passing, she entertained herself by playing card games and Bingo at the Algona Senior Center. She enjoyed doing seek a word and putting puzzles together.
Dick shared his love of baseball and she enjoyed watching her Cubs. Dick teased her that John Wayne was her boyfriend because she enjoyed watching his movies so much. She complained when there were reruns but by this time in her life, the movies had been rerun many times over.
Left to cherish Norene’s memory are her children: Linda (Marvin) Hansen of Fenton, Su (Thom) Berger of Clear Lake and Peter DeBoom of Whittemore: 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law Vione Nieuwenhuis; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents: William and Geneva Nieuwenhuis, her son Robert DeBoom, her brother Vernon, sister La Verna, brother-in-law Don and husband Richard Elsbecker.