Normajean Kontes, age 88, of Idaho Falls, Idaho passed away Friday, October 6, 2023, at her home.  She was in the care of her family and Enhabit Home Health and Hospice, in Idaho Falls.

She was born Normajean Hoffman on July 26, 1935, to James Curtis Hoffman and Lily May (Mitts) Hoffman in the small town of Carlton, Colorado. Her family moved all over the Western United States during the great depression and World War II seeking work and finally settling in Idaho Falls.  She graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1953.  For a time, she worked as a clothing model and salesclerk locally, and then later under the tutelage of the television pioneer Easter Irene Straker in Lima, Ohio as a script editor and live-on-air advertising model.  Upon returning to Idaho Falls, she worked as a secretary for the Atomic Energy Commission at the Test Area North Facility, with the Nuclear Aircraft Engine Project.

Her life-long career in education began as a student teacher at Falls Valley School in District 93 in 1966.  By 1970 she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors-of-Science from BYU in Provo, Utah.  She continued taking night courses, obtained a Master's Equivalency, and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.  She has taught and influenced hundreds of third graders over her career, many of whom went on to serve the public throughout their lives as well.

Upon retirement, she became a watercolor artist and later, a colored pencil artist and participated in the Color Pencil Society of America (CPSA) and showed her artwork locally.  She became a published author in the later years of her life.

She was a lifelong member of the Southern Baptist and enjoyed teaching Sunday School and conducting deep studies of the Bible with her friends and family.  Normajean was a member of Falls Southern Baptist Church for many years.

Normajean was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her son, Robert Curtis (Sherry) Kontes.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 13, 2023, at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.