Norma Dene Mestad was born in Glenns Ferry, Idaho in 1927 to Alma and Clara Fikstad Smith. She accompanied her family to Mesa, Arizona as a child. Following her graduation from Mesa High in 1945, she began her career at Western Union and Bell Telephone, and eventually moved to California. A lifelong LDS member, she also traveled and enjoyed sightseeing. Her work experience widened her occupations into retailing and contracting. Prior to her retirement to Idaho, she lived in the 1980's in the Washington D.C. area. She leaves behind a son, Ken (Denise), and two siblings, Belva Weeks of Rexburg and Glenn Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah. A memorial service will be planned for a later date. She died on April 10, 2017.