The funeral service for Norma Jean Herring, 95, of Slayton, formerly of Balaton, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will take place at the church on Friday, February 21, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place following the service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton.
Norma “Jean†(Mutschler) Herring was born on December 24, 1924, in Tracy, to Jess and Violet (Swanson) Mutschler. In 1926, the family moved to Balaton. Jean graduated from Balaton High School in 1942. She attended Minneapolis Business College, graduating in Spring 1943, and afterward Jean worked for Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Company for about two years. In the summer of 1945, Jean moved to San Diego, where she worked at the Naval Air Station for seven years in the Personnel and Statistics Division.
Jean returned to Balaton, and on April 24, 1954, she was united in marriage to Richard Herring. The couple was blessed with three children: Kathy, Steve, and Karen. Jean stayed home to raise her children for six years before going back to work at the Ruthton Bank for four years. Jean then worked as a bookkeeper in the Balaton School Office for 19 years until retiring in June 1987.
After retirement, Jean enjoyed bowling and playing cards with friends. She was on the Balaton Centennial Committee, assisted with Meals on Wheels, and read the news to residents at the Colonial Manor. Jean’s faith was important to her, and she was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for over 50 years, where she was active in Circles, WELCA, and the choir. Jean also enjoyed traveling with family and friends, exploring the United States and Europe after retirement.
Jean died on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at Our House of Murray County in Slayton, MN. She is survived by her children Kathy (Bruce) Johnson, Steve Herring, and Karen Herring; grandchildren Mitchell (Megan) Johnson and Breanna Johnson (fiancé Adam); great-grandson Cayden Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Jess Mutschler, mother Violet Mutschler Foster, step-father Clarence Foster, husband Richard Herring, sister Mary (Jerry) Schnobrich, and niece Connie Schnobrich.
