Celebrating 95 Years in South Dakota

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Baby Noma, being held by her dad John, with her three siblings Neal, Joyce and Corrine.

Noma Sazama, nee Larson, celebrated her 95^th birthday on September 21. Growing up on the Rosebud Reservation near Mission, South Dakota, she moved to Martin, S.D. when she was in her 80s to be closer to one of her six children.

“Staying busy,” was her answer to a long life. This editor would also add, that her faith, family and friends play an important role.

Her birthday celebration was held at the Lutheran Church. She has been a member of that faith, since a little girl. One daughter put an ad in the local paper that all were invited to cake and ice cream at the Saturday, 1-3 p.m. celebration. Cards were requested in lieu of gifts. It was a lovely afternoon as people sat and visited.

Noma, who grew up during the “dirty 30s,” was raised on a farm with her three siblings. The grasshoppers were everywhere and ate the paint off the buildings. As  a young girl she remembered waving a dishtowel at them in the garden to try and save the vegetables.

She suffered a terrible loss when her dad, John Larson was killed on July 4, 1950, 1when a town fireworks show, caused a fireworks to misfire in his face.

Noma married George B. Sazama in 1952, they would have six children. She went back to college to get her bachelor’s degree and her teaching certificate. The couple took their children with them to summer school, often living in four-room apartments, over several summers.

When she found out she needed a physical education credit to graduate, she took up golf, which she not only played for several years, but taught her children to play. Two played on the high school golf teams.

Noma, just like her mom Cora, loved plants and gardening. All of her children were raised in the garden. She still gardens, eating the fresh vegetables and canning and freezing the rest. Her salsa won best of show in the Bennet County Fair this past August.

She taught 33 years, the last were working with middle school math. Her husband died in 1989.

When her mom, came to live with her in 1992, she retired from teaching to become a caregiver.

On Monday, she went with her walking group, they walk in the high school gym two days a week (safer – no broken sidewalks and the temperature is controlled). She and a friend were trying to figure out what day they could play bridge – because their schedules were so busy.

Noma also plays Sharp-13 (cards), with another group of women, she belongs to the American Legion auxiliary and is active in her church. She spends every day doing card games, Wordle and other computer games. She’s kept up with technology – and embraced it.

So, yes, she does keep busy.

But . . .I think it’s her faith that helps keep stress low. When I ask her what she thinks about a national issue or national candidates, she responds, “God will take care of it. He’s in control.” (That a small sip of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, when she has a scratch in her throat.)

Noma Sazama, wearing the birthday “crown” with her six homemade cakes. Two were baked by her niece and four by her daughters.

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