Romona Lois Norton, 79

Romona Rae Lois Norton, 79, of Kalispell, passed away Jan. 13, 2010, at Colonial Manor, with her loving family by her side. Rae, the daughter of Anton and Grace Mae (Brown) Bartel, was born near the Theriault Ferry (which her father ran) in Lower Valley on Aug. 14, 1930. As a young child she lived in the Creston area and at various locations in the Flathead Valley her entire life. She married her first husband, Charley Williams (a cowboy and loving father), and from this union she had three daughters and two sons that the two raised in the Borman area. Romona worked very hard in those days taking care of her family and any sick animal that needed her care. They were later divorced and she moved to Kalispell with her children. She married for a second time to George Norton and from this union she had a daughter and two sons. Romona taught Bible class at the Church of the Nazarene. Children were always an important part of her life and it was during this time that she helped establish the Head Start Program. In later years, when George s health failed, she went to work as a CNA at the Immanuel Lutheran Home and continued to work until her health started to fail. Romona loved being outdoors and always had a garden; her children have many memories of helping their mother with the vegetables and flowers. She also loved being in the country, camping, walking among the trees, the smell of wood, the wildflowers, the birds, and the wildlife she would see. She was a daredevil and free spirited " baa haa-ing through the forest. Rae liked going to Glacier National Park and the National Bison Range. Rae was a rock collector, filling her pockets with memories to add to her rose and carnation gardens. She is survived by her eight children, Audrey Flansaas, Geraldine Smith, Douglas and Wayne Williams, Sharon Jordt, Donna Bear, and Harvey and Russell Norton, all of the Kalispell area. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Roberta Shelley and Rodessa Norton; one brother, David Bartel; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; two daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; three grandsons; and three brothers. Romona was laid to rest on Jan. 16, at Glacier Memorial Gardens beside her loving husband George. Although Mom has taken up new residence in the Lord s house, she will live forever in our hearts.