Norma Jean Jahn

Norma Jean Jahn, 17 Sept 1926 - 6 April 2014, born in Galveston, Texas, raised in Houston, passed peacefully Sun evening at St Joseph's Hospital in Los Angeles County. She touched and inspired many lives with her beautiful voice.
Norma Jean started singing when she was 16yrs old, having won Miss Sweetheart of Texas, and began singing and traveling in the early 40's with the big bands from Texas to Chicago to Kentucky, where she met my Father, Lester Balaski, who was there to ride the Derby. Mom was singing at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky and a friend brought Dad in to meet this amazingly beautiful singer. They married a few years later and had my sister, Beverly Balaski in 1946, and then me, Belinda Balaski in 1947. She settled for a while playing wife and mother, but would always sing at the Brown Derby or various places they traveled to with the race track seasons. They divorced in 1957 and Mom remarried for a couple of years only to divorce again.
Norma Jean then began to focus on her God given 'gift of a voice' and again traveled from LA to New Orleans around 1967 where she received the key to the city and had the "Norma King Radio Show" for several years live from the Roosevelt Hotel, reaching 50,000 watts out of New Orleans. She continued to travel around the world singing on a cruise liner from Hawaii to the Ambassador Hotel in Hong Kong, Japan.
While she was in New Orleans however, she met the King sisters also singing at the Roosevelt. Through their friendship, Mom began her interest in the Mormon Church and was eventually mentored by Bobby Engemann of The Lettermen, committing to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in 1972 where she remained till her passing. She sang for the church at every occasion and outside of the church up through Christmas of 2013 at 87 years old, along with booking several national commercials. She had the most amazing voice, and the drive and persistence to always find a way to share her talents.
She is survived by her 2 daughters, Beverly Sue Balaski & Belinda Lou Balaski and grandchildren Jeremy Jon Ellis, Sharisse Marcalina Bray, Michelle & Nicholas Pagliara, and a great granddaughter Maya Nicole Ellis & Kylie Lucenia Brown.



It is with deep sorrow I announce the passing of my beautiful Mother, Norma Jean Jahn, on Sun the 6th of April 2014.

There will be a Viewing at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Mortuary on the 13th of April, Sun evening from 5 - 9pm
6300 Forest Lawn Drive, LA 90068 323)769-7303

Her Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in North Hollywood on the 14th of April, Mon morning at 11am, with a Viewing there starting at 9:30-10:30am
11022 Riverside Dr, North Hollywood 91602 818)980-1512

Norma Jean will then be flown to Houston, Texas on Tues the 15th of April to reside in her family plot.
There will be a Graveside Service at Forest Park Cemetery at 11am on the 17th of April for her burial.
6900 Lawndale, Houston, Texas 77023 713)928-5141

We hope you will join us for any or all of these services and share your memories of Mom with us.