She was born August 18, 1911 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of LeGrand Richards and Ina Jane Ashton Richards.
Norrine lived most of her life in Glendale, California, where she met Reed Eddington Callister. They were married on March 9, 1932 in the Salt Lake Temple by her grandfather, George F. Richards. She was the mother of six children, Reed Richards; David R; Douglas Lane; Paula Kaye (deceased); Tad Richards; and Susan Jane Becker. Norinne's husband passed away in 1989. They were married 57 years.
Norinne's life was one of service. She loved helping others and was very charitable, both with her time and with her means. In the community, she served as PTA president at three different schools. She also was President of both her local P.E.O. and H.E.L.P. (Hospital Emergency Loan Plan), and she served on the boards of the YWCA, Red Cross, and National Charity League and was Vice-President of the Women's Guild of the Glendale Symphony.
In 1978, she was selected honorary California Mother of the Year and was awarded the Utah Heritage Award which stated, "Awarded to Norinne Richards Callister for outstanding service to Family - Church -Community".
Norinne enjoyed beautiful art and loved classical music, and throughout her life she had a quest for learning. Her great faith and a strong testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ were the foundation of her life and as a result she treasured the experiences of serving in the Church.
Norinne worked diligently in many church callings, which included serving as Primary President, YWMIA President, and four times a Relief Society President, finally being released from that position in her 80th year. With her husband she lived three years in London, England, where Reed presided over the mission from 1967-1969.
Norinne's greatest legacy was her posterity. In addition to her six children, she loved and admired 35 grandchildren, 107 great-grandchildren, and recently welcomed her first great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, July 10, 2009 at 12 Noon in the Ensign Stake Center, 135 "A" Street. Friends may call at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple Street, on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Friday at the Church from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South.
Published in the Deseret News from 7/3/2009 - 7/8/2009.
