Norma Dean Cacka

Today we celebrate the life of Norma Cacka born on September 21, 1930 to Owen Bristow and Vera Jolly, survived by sister Donna Seaton, 2 daughters, Lisa and Patti, 1 son of the heart, Jim, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. She grew up in San Bernardino where she had a love of animals, helping people, and playing the accordion. At an early age she joined the Future Farmers of America where she learned how to care for and show animals. Norma toured with Head Start School, bringing several of her animals in to meet inner city children so that they may experience farming culture and open their eyes to the world beyond city limits. The love of fruits brought her to meet the love of her life, Frank Cacka, when he caught her stealing oranges out of his father’s orchard. They were later married on June 14, 1948 and shared their unconditional love for over 57 years.

The second chapter of her life took her to Macdoel in 1953, where she and Frank started a farm. They started with a dairy with milk cows and then added alfalfa, potatoes and grain which was sold to the locals. After 2 years, they built a little house (24x24) which they lived in for 8 years. Norma and Frank moved back down to San Bernardino in 1963 where he became a Firefighter. The first Miniature Pinscher to capture her heart was American & Canadian Ch Airline’s Stampeder, given to her by the Tottens. And the love of that one Min Pin turned into her becoming one of the founding members of the Miniature Pinscher Club of Greater Los Angeles, breeding over 50 AKC champions, including obedience, agility and rally and selling Min Pin’s around the world. One of the champions was the second chocolate Ch Onlyone Chocolate Fudge “Max” in the US to obtain an AKC title. She was also the breeder of record for the first Blue Min Pin to achieve a title in front of his name; RACH Bluehen’s Bolt Out of the Blue “Jiminy Cricket”.

Norma’s loving heart always had room for one more person or Min Pin and a yearning for a great debate. She had a puppy specially trained for her blind friend to get around, also donated a min pin to a hearing impaired friend, brightened seniors lives by donating Min Pins to nursing homes and would give what she could to those in need. Make no mistake, Norma was indeed a fighter. Throughout most of her life she suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis, but that fighting spirit was most evident in her heated debates. Along with friends and family, the people that she enjoyed most were the visits with her Brothers and Sisters at the Church of Latter-Day Saints. She would keep the Home Teachers captive for hours, but before leaving, they would all celebrate the Lord. Norma would always ask everyone if they saw her cat pictures and we would of course answer no, she would then proudly show us the pictures of her bobcats raising baby Lisa. In the end, Norma was a collector of many things, including the hearts of the ones she loved.

Norma is finally back with the love of her life, Frank Cacka.