Norma E Seward

The First Lady of Colorado Horse Racing

Norma E. Seward, renowned Colorado horsewoman and longtime resident of Wray, Colo., passed away on November 19 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo.  Her untimely death was a result of acute congestive heart failure.  She was seventy-four years old.

Funeral services were held on November 28 at 11 am at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray. A lunch reception provided by the American Legion Auxiliary Johnny Hines Unit #30 and a private family inurnment followed at the Grandview Cemetery.

Norma Eleonore Krahling was born in Halle an der Saale, Germany on September 20, 1940 to Theodore and Elsbeth Krahling. During WWII, the family including Norma’s older brother Ted Krahling, narrowly escaped to the United States. They later moved from New York to Colorado where Norma attended and graduated from Manitou Springs High School in 1958.

She developed her love for horses at an early age and began riding and competing in local rodeos where she established friendships that continue to this day. She attended Colorado State University and the University of Arizona where she competed on the college rodeo teams. She was the West Coast Regional Barrel Racing Champion and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in both barrel racing and goat tying finishing in the top ten in both events. Norma’s endearing personality and horsemanship skills earned her the Miss Rodeo Colorado Runner-Up title in 1961 and she was selected as the University of Arizona’s representative for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s queen contest.

In the early ‘60s Norma began training racehorses and was one of the first licensed women trainers at that time. She trained leading racehorses Camp Town Boy, Breeze Bar, Ettabo and Double Twist. On March 15, 1968 she married prominent Colorado horseman Marion E. Seward and established their home west of Wray. The pair continued to race and train horses together at Seward Quarter Horse Ranch. They developed a breeding program that included top stallions such as Camp Town Boy, Rillito Deck and Broetta. Norma, who was a member of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, continued to barrel race professionally, held barrel racing clinics and later turned her race horses into top barrel horse prospects. Marion and Norma’s three children M.C., Marci and Jayne have participated not only in raising and training horses, but also excelled and won top awards in Little Britches and High School Rodeo competitions. Following Marion’s passing on March 29, 1989, Norma continued to raise and train Quarter Horses. Their family was always foremost in her mind as she guided their children to become strong and educated.  She watched and nurtured each one to develop into individuals with the same values and ethics their family possessed. Today, Marci is a registered dietician, M.C. is a practicing veterinarian and Jayne is a celebrity stylist and freelance writer.

Norma was actively engaged in raising and training Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds throughout her life. One of her most notable racehorses, Aint It Fun, was a multiple graded stakes winner and stakes producer. Recently, Norma received a 60-year breeder award from the American Quarter Horse Association recognizing the Seward family’s lifelong achievements in the industry. She will be remembered for her passion and dedication to Quarter Horse racing as well as her beloved family, friends and pets. Mostly, she will continue to be an inspiration to us all to believe that anything is possible if you follow your dreams.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband Marion E. Seward; her father Theodore Krahling and her mother Elsbeth Krahling. Her survivors include her son M.C. Seward of Blacksburg, Va.; her two daughters Marci Seward of Loveland, Colo. and Jayne Seward of Los Angeles, Calif.; her brother Ted Krahling of Longmont, Colo.; her step-son John Seward of St. Paul, Minn.; her step-daughter Margi Bagley of Cheyenne, Wyo. There are also 10 grandchildren Ally, Braden, Chase and Dixon Seward; Dannette, Melisa and Sheila Seward; and Bill, John and Chris Bagley; her sister-in-law Betty Krahling; her daughter-in-law Shawn Briggs-Seward; her son-in-law Bill Bagley; and her daughter-in-law Judy Seward.

A memorial service was held Friday, November 28, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Timothy Davis and Pastor Gary Rahe officiating. A Private Family Inurnment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be sent to the American Legion Auxiliary, Johnny Hines Unit #30, c/o Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado 80758. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.