Norma (Larsen) Zimmer (1923 - 2011)

Born 13 Jul 1923 in Larson, Shoshone, Idaho, United States

Wife of Randal Hugo Zimmer — married 5 Jun 1944 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States

Died 10 May 2011 at age 87 in Brea, Orange, California, United States

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Biography

Norma (Larsen) Zimmer is Notable.

Norma Zimmer was a well-known singer with a beautiful voice who was a major star of the Lawrence Welk Show television show. In 1951, she lent her vocal talents to Walt Disney in the role of the White Rose in Alice in Wonderland.

Norma was born on July 13, 1923, in Shoshone County, Idaho, in a log cabin on her grandfather's dairy farm. Her father, Peter Magnus Larsen, sought to become a famous violin player, but after an injury to his hand on the farm, he became a violin teacher instead. Her mother was Katherine "Kay" Lindroos. The family moved to Seattle, Washington when Norma was two years old seeking a better life. She spent her childhood in Seattle living in abject poverty.

Through encouragement from her high school music teacher, Norma overcame her shyness and her faith in Jesus Christ lead her to sing in church choirs. Her singing career blossomed and she eventually went to Los Angeles, California where she performed with several different vocal groups, including the Norman Luboff Choir and the Ken Darby Singers. She was a featured soloist on "The Hour of Power" Sunday morning program hosted by televangelist Rev. Robert Schuler.

In 1944, Norma Larsen Zimmer married Randal Hugo "Randy" Zimmer, a commercial developer. They had two sons and Norma was a devoted mother. She enjoyed skiing and painting.

Norma was hired in 1959 to be the "Champagne Lady" on The Lawrence Welk Show after the original performer left the show. She represented the sound of "Champagne Music" Lawrence Welk promoted, which was light and bubbly. She wore her hair blonde and often in a "bubble" hairstyle popular at the time. She held the title of "Champagne Lady" for more than two decades. Norma sang many beautiful songs, often Broadway show tunes and Christian hymns, over the years, sometimes alone and sometimes in duet with Jimmy Roberts.

Norma Larsen Zimmer wrote her autobiography which was published in 1997.^[1] She was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 2005.^[2]

Norma Larsen Zimmer lived to be 87 years old, and passed away on May 10, 2011, at her home in Brea, California.

Sources

1. ↑ Book: Autobiography of Norma Larsen Zimmer - Zimmer, Norma (1977). Norma. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-0842347167.
2. ↑ Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame 2005

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC3N-RG8 : accessed 8 November 2021), Norma B Larsen in household of Peter M Larsen, Woodland, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 388, sheet 12B, line 65, family 324, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2505; FHL microfilm 2,342,239.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #69707870

See Also:

• Wikipedia - Norma ZImmer

• Wikipedia - Lawrence Welk Show

• Wikidata: Item Q2108016