The Market in the Student Union Building (SUB) has had the same smiling face at the register since 1984.
Whether visitors are grabbing a quick snack, touring campus or planning dinner, all are treated with hospitality by Norma Jean Weimer.
Before coming to Boise State, Weimer was raised under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada. While some may think a childhood in Sin City would be overwhelming, Weimer saw it as totally ordinary.
“It was like any normal town,” Weimer recalled. “We all knew about the Strip — gambling, Elvis Presley, lots of concerts – but at the end of the day, we were just kids.”
Life in Las Vegas wasn’t all flashing lights. Growing up in the 1960s meant witnessing social change firsthand.
“I remember junior high, where we were segregated,” Weimer said. “I didn’t understand why we couldn’t drink out of the same fountain, or why we couldn’t go to the same bathroom, or why we couldn’t eat in the same cafeteria side by side. As kids, we never understood why.”
Weimer’s school desegregated in 1970, allowing all students to integrate fully.
“Life became so much happier,” Weimer said. “We all integrated beautifully, since we were friends anyway. Nobody could ever take that away from us back then, no matter what.”
Weimer graduated from Western High School and started college at Idaho State University (ISU) in Pocatello, Idaho. From the bustling streets of Vegas to the breezy countryside of Pocatello, the leap left Weimer culture shocked.
“In Vegas, you could buy a pair of shoes in the middle of the night,” Weimer reflected. “In Pocatello, everything closed early.”
At ISU, Weimer studied Home Economics and found comfort in the slower pace of Idaho life. The beauty of the Gem State drew her into outdoor sports, primarily skiing. She met her future husband while hitting the slopes of her local ski resort. The 19-year-old duo married on the snowy evening of Dec. 13, 1975.
“We didn’t spend ten thousand dollars or go anywhere fancy,” Weimer said. “We stayed at the Roadway Inn on Chinden and honeymooned in Jackson Hole. It was perfect.”
The newlyweds made Boise their forever home — a decision that shaped the next 40 years of her life.
Weimer welcomed her first child, Siobhan, in 1978 and her second, Derek, in 1980. When her children were young, she was happy as a stay-at-home mother.
“I was lucky enough to stay home until they started first grade,” she said. “After that, I went back to work.”
In 1984, she accepted a full-time cashier position at The Market in the SUB. Boise State offered Weimer the flexibility she needed as a young mom.
“We didn’t make much money, but things didn’t cost a lot either,” she said. “Life was easy — we just worked hard and took care of our kids. BSU really supported me as a new mom.”
Weimer reflected on the growth of Boise State over the decades and said she views the ever-changing campus as her second home.
After decades on campus, Weimer has witnessed countless changes at the university. Behind her smiling face at the counter, however, she carried a quiet strength that arose from tragedy.
In 2015, Weimer faced the hardest chapter of her life: the end of her marriage. That heartbreak evolved into something new as she rediscovered independence and self-love through friendship.
“It was hard after 38 years of marriage. You think you know what your life is going to be, and then it’s not,” Weimer said. “I learned I can do things on my own. My coworkers are the ones who got me through it. They’re my family.”
It’s clear that Weimer is more than just another cashier on campus. Her laughs, hellos and warmth keep students coming back everyday.
Kortny Serrano, a regular of The Market, said she adores Weimer’s gentle kindness.
“Norma is just wonderful,” Serrano said. “She brightens my day every time I come in here. She’s really just a beautiful soul. I feel like I could come to her about anything.”
Mayuko Luff, Weimer’s coworker, said she is grateful to have Weimer in her life.
“I was so nervous coming here from Japan, and Norma was so accepting and respectful of my culture,” Luff said. “She made me feel so happy. She’s like my second mom.”
What began as a sudden move became a lifelong part of her story. Weimer expressed her passion for the “beautiful” campus, emphasizing her goal to uplift each customer’s experience.
She continues to spread love on campus and to herself through life’s ups and downs.
“Boise State’s been my life,” Weimer said. “I’ve seen it change, I’ve seen myself change — but it’s still home.”
