Nora Vivian Humphrey, 90, of Custer, SD passed away December 11, 2008 at the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Center in Chadron, NE.

Nora was born at the Sister's Hospital in Hot Springs, SD on June 27, 1918, the first child of Ben & Marie (Peterson) Harrison.

Nora lived on a ranch south of Oelrichs, SD until 1930 when they moved into Oelrichs township. When she was 17 years old her Mother then her Father died and she was left to care for her two younger sisters, one 15 years old and the other 12 years old. She graduated from Oelrichs High School in 1936.

In 1937, she married Harold Humphrey where Harold worked in the light plant for his step-father. They then went into the Gamble Store business. Harold went into the military service in WW II and Nora continued managing the store and also carried mail for the surrounding area.. Their two sons John & Joe were born in 1946 and 1948. In 1958 another son Ben was born..
Harold entered employment with Peter Kiewit & Co when the canals were built at Angostura Dam. He continued employment with them and traveled to several places in the United States with family in tow. They settled in La Crescenta, California for about 25 years until retiring and moving back to Custer, SD in 1978. Nora continued to live in that home until May 2008 when she moved to Prairie Pines Lodge in Chadron, NE to be with her two sisters Adeline and Sarah.
Nora was very talented in the Arts and she first sewed and crochet many beautiful things. She then took up painting classes and became an artist. For several years after moving to Custer she taught Tole painting until this past spring. The last couple of years she painted hundreds of Christmas ornaments with roses and then buffalo which she sold and gave away. Last year she entered the Custer Stampede painted buffalo auction and was proud to have her work displayed on the side of a buffalo which was than auctioned off to benefit the cause.

Nora was also an antique collector and became knowledgeable of that. Her home was decorated with antiques including furniture, glass and lamps which she knew how to display. She liked to entertain and have friends and family visit her home often.

Nora was a member of St. John's the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer and The American Legion Auxiliary in Oelrichs.

She is survived by her three sons. John (Jan) of Hill City, SD. Joe (Denise) of Las Vegas, NV and Ben (Michael) of Lead, SD. Four grandchildren. Amy DeLoera (Rafael) of Rancho Cucamonga, CA., Sara Covey (Martin) of Big Bear City, CA., Michael Humphrey of Las Vegas, NV. and Karin Morrison (Nate) of Las Vegas, NV. Three great-granddaughters, Paige, Willow and Dakota from CA. Two sisters Adeline (Bill) Frahm of Chadron, NE and Sarah Arvesen of South Bend, IN. and presently Chadron, NE. and many nieces and nephews and friends.
Those preceding her in death are her husband Harold of 50 years, her Father & Mother, her brother-in-law Harold Arevesen, ten half brothers and sisters. Jessie (Bill) Ormesher, Blanche (Milo) Groves, Ethel (Ralph) Wilcox, Abigail Harrison, Arthur (Helen) Harrison, Archie (Ellen) Harrison, Walter (Eunice) Harrison, Bill (DeVee) Harrison, Alonzo Harrison and Ruth (Leon) Bennett.

Wake services will be held 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 19, 2008 at St. John's the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.

Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2008 at St. John's the Baptist Catholic Chuch in Csuter with Father Peter Kovarik officiating.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.