Norma Jean Helfrich

Norma was born on March 31st, 1932, to Herbert and Jean Park Dickson in Edinburgh, Scotland. Although Norma’s mother died in 1941, her father was remarried five years later to Jean Courtney Easton. Norma enjoyed a close, loving relationship with her father, stepmother and three siblings.

Norma attended James Gillespie’s School for Girls. After leaving school, Norma was employed by James Thin Booksellers for thirteen years before making a bold, life changing decision to immigrate to America. With sponsorship from her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and David Adam of Redwood City, California, Norma arrived stateside in October of 1961. She went to work for Wells Fargo Bank in Redwood City. A short while later, she transferred to the San Francisco branch and moved into her own apartment in the city.

A fateful meeting on New Years Eve in 1961 would shape the rest of Norma’s life. A young Richard Helfrich joined his Scottish golfing buddy at a British pub, aptly named the Edinburgh Castle in San Francisco. Norma and Richard spoke briefly that night and reconnected the next day. Their courtship lasted six months and they were married on July 7th, 1962 at the Church of the Wayfarer in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea.

When Norma initially left Scotland, a family friend bet her father that she would be back with an American husband within a year. Happily for everyone, Herbert Dickson lost that bet and the newlyweds made the trek back to Scotland on their honeymoon in August of 1962, two months shy of one year. Sixty-two years later, Richard maintains that meeting and marrying Norma was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Norma was a truly generous person, who loved with her whole heart and without judgement. Her capacity for love extended not just to her own family, but to all those around her. She had a warm, welcoming, no-nonsense parenting style. If you walked into her house, you were instantly part of the family.

Norma was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and worked in the athletic department at Bradley University.

Norma is preceded in death by her parents and brother, James Dickson. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard, and three children; Karen (Jim) Pratt, Lisa (Mark) Jackson and Steven (Janelle) Helfrich. Norma relished being grandmother to five grandchildren – Renee (Eric) Biegalski, Daniel Jackson, Brad Helfrich, Jared Pratt and Jay Pratt, as well as great granddaughter, Hallie Rae Biegalski. She is also survived by sister Helen (Keith) Lee and brother David (Dorothy) Dickson.

A celebration of Norma’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria with visitation from 10-11 a.m. Rev. Tim Mitchell will officiate. Private burial.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Helfrich Family Memorial Scholarship at Bradley University.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Proctor Place.

Online condolences may be made at www.davison-fulton.com