Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Norris commuted by bike in an era when that wasn’t all the rage in Minneapolis, wheeling her way to work from the south Minneapolis neighborhood where she was among the first Black homeowners, to downtown where she built a 30-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.

Norris died on June 9 following an illness. She was 93.

Norris worked the overnight shift as a clerk inside the big, beautiful downtown Minneapolis post office. It was an era when the Postal Service was among the most desirable career destinations for African Americans, said daughter Michele Norris, a national journalist who once hosted National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” program. While employed there, Norris appeared on the cover of a Postal Service career textbook in bluejeans and a vest.

Michele Norris fondly recalled her mother’s get-up as she tooled her three-speed bike downtown: bell bottoms cuffed with rubber bands so they wouldn’t get greasy, purse in her bike basket and “Jackie O-style scarf on her head.

“She wore cowboy boots and bowties. She was an individual. … She was not following trends and in retrospect she was probably helping set them,” Michele Norris said.

Norris met her former husband on the job; he worked days as a counter clerk. The two had three daughters together, including Michele.

She found other ways to make the post office more than just a workplace. Norris created a library inside the station, as it was challenging for overnight workers to make it to the public library during the day. With a single room lined with books, she created an organizational system and a system for lending.

“In a world that had not yet opened up in the way that it has now, there were a lot of people of color, a lot of women, a lot of people from small-town America that had made their way to the Twin Cities … that if circumstances were different, might have been able to get a college education,” Michele Norris said.

Betty Norris read everything: newspapers, Westerns, British mysteries. She liked theater and TV, too, said granddaughter Aja Johnson, who remembers watching “Downton Abbey” together and sharing ice cream. The two spoke daily until her grandmother’s death, Johnson said.

Her sweet tooth was prolific. Norris particularly loved root beer floats and coffee ice cream, which became Johnson’s favorite, too.

“I think the lesson there for me and for my family, too, is she kind of put joy at the forefront of her life, and was always laughing and always finding reasons to be happy. … I think that’s what we’ll miss most about her,” Johnson said.

Norris was an example for her as she moves into adulthood, said Johnson, who is a law student. She lived on her own until 90 years old, Johnson said.

“She was a cool woman. She grew up in the Depression and was always fiercely independent up until she passed, always put herself first,” Johnson said.

‘Fearlessly loyal to the state’

The Norris family are fourth-generation Minnesotans — which is somewhat unusual. Many Black families made their way to Minnesota during the Great Migration from the Southern states, but the family predated that. Norris was born in Duluth before her family ended up in the Twin Cities.

When Norris and her husband purchased a home in south Minneapolis, in the 4800 block of Oakland Avenue, they were the sole Black family in what was then a white neighborhood. Neighbors hurried to sell their homes as property values began to fall. Nobody wanted to live next to the Negro family and people hung nasty signs outside their homes, Michele Norris said.

But their homes wouldn’t sell. Norris did not shrink and hide her family away. When prospective buyers were at the neighboring homes, Betty sent her brown-skinned daughters out to play in the backyard so they knew exactly who their neighbors would be.

“Mom showed her character and she didn’t cower and she didn’t hide, she didn’t pull the curtains,” Michele said. “They probably worked even harder to make sure their house was a standout, knowing that everyone was watching them.”

Eventually, the only buyer a neighbor could find was another Black family; the Norrises formed a close bond with them. Over time, the neighborhood and schools integrated.

“She really was a Minnesotan, fearlessly loyal to the state, to the sports teams, to the way of life, to the politics of Minnesota, all of that was deeply reflected in who she was,” her daughter said.

Services have been held.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Central Indiana, including Indianapolis and the surrounding area. Storms capable of producing penny-sized hail and winds up to 70 mph could last at least until 4:45 p.m.

The current storms are expected to be the strongest storms today, National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew White said. There may be damaging winds and lightning. Residual rain is expected at around 6 p.m., and tomorrow will be sunny.

People should stay inside; the NWS recommends people move to rooms with no windows on the lowest floor of the building if possible. Rain may lead to flash flooding, and the NWS advises drivers not to drive through flooded roadways.

🚨 Indiana Weather Alerts: Warnings, Watches and Advisories

⚡ Indiana power outage map: How to check your status

💻 Internet outages: how to track them

🚫 What you should and shouldn’t do when the power is out

🐶 Your neighbor left their pet outside. Who you should call

Where to report power outages and downed lines

AES Indiana customers: 317-261-8111

Duke Energy customers: 1-800-343-3525

How to report downed traffic signals or tree limbs blocking a road

If you encounter a downed traffic signal or a limb blocking a roadway, contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622 or online at RequestIndy.gov. When calling after hours, press “2” to be connected. 

Kevin Love is coming off his second year playing for the Miami Heat.

The former UCLA star finished the season with averages of 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest while shooting 44.0% from the field and 34.4% from the three-point range in 55 games.

On Saturday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Love will decline the player option in his contract and become a free agent.

Via Wojnarowski: “ESPN Sources: Miami Heat F/C Kevin Love is declining his $4M player option, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency. The five-time All-Star has played the past two seasons with the Heat.”

Based on Wojnarowski’s reporting, it sounds like Love will likely end up back in Miami.

Love was initially the fifth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and has played 16 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves (in addition to Miami).

He has career averages of 16.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.9% from the three-point range in 929 regular season games.

The 2016 NBA Champion has also appeared in 88 playoff games (80 starts).

He has been to the Finals five times in his career.

As for the Heat, they finished the 2023-24 season as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 46-36 record.

They lost to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs (in five games).