Norman's folks farmed near Missler, northwest of Meade. He was born at Dodge City and began life on the family farm. He attended 1st and 2nd Grade at the Missler Country School, then the school was combined with the Meade School System and he attended the Meade Public Schools from the 3rd Grade through the 12th Grade.

Norman was a lifetime farmer except for his service with the National Guard beginning in 1960 and continuing for 5 ½ years. He was married in 1965 and divorced in 1982. Norman has 2 daughters, Karen and Linda, and 3 grandchildren, 2 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.

Although Norman retired from the farm in 2000, his love for the soil led him to begin truck farming, which he does on a grand scale and for the love of it.

"I enjoy gardening and dealing with the public" Reiss said. "I use to garden when I was a kid till my dad put me on the tractor." He chuckled and added, "eventually I got back around to gardening."