Noreen I. Sorenson, 89

Noreen Inez Sorenson, of Whitefish, passed away Sept. 20, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born June 26, 1921, in Lidgerwood, N.D., to August and Margaret Grobe. She was one of four siblings. She attended school in Lidgerwood and graduated from cosmetology school. Noreen began her career as a beautician in Parshall, N.D., where she met Arnold Sorenson. On Dec. 15, 1942, they were joined in marriage which began a long lasting journey of 57 years until Arnold s death in 2000. In the spring of 1943, they sold their ranch in Parshall and moved to Whitefish, where they purchased a farm. Together they developed the property and began their family. In addition to farming, they operated a dairy for over 20 years. Noreen was a full-time homemaker and was proud to be a farmer s wife. She could often be found milking and feeding the cattle. She loved to fish and spent many hours fishing the Stillwater River. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish and Stillwater Lutheran Church in Kalispell. She truly was a woman of faith and enjoyed reading her Bible and listening to and playing gospel music. She enjoyed artistic whistling and played the harmonica by ear, entertaining many at church functions, nursing homes and family gatherings. She filled many homes with her beautiful hand work and was able to crochet doilies without a pattern until shortly before her death. Noreen was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her kindness was extended to everyone she met. The family has fond memories of gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas enjoying the lefse and lutefisk she prepared. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother and sister. She is survived by her son, Gregory Sorenson, and wife, Susan, of Columbia Falls; daughters, Diane McEntire and husband, Danny, of Whitefish, Sandra Balch and husband, Mike, of Spokane, Janice Nicol and husband, Kenneth, of Sparwood, British Columbia, Julie Walhus and husband, Greg, of Whitefish, and Judy Coonrod and husband, Dan, of Spokane; 12 grandchildren, Brian and Bill Sorenson, Patty, Wayne and Tim McEntire, Glenn McGaughey, Angela Balch, Scott and Nancy Nicol, Matthew, Rebecca and Jessica Walhus; and eight great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Kackman, and husband, Mel, of South St. Paul, Minn.; and brother, Norm Grobe, and wife, Carol, of Veblen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home with visitation from noon to 6 p.m. today. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday at Stillwater Lutheran Church, Kalispell, with Pastor Tim Bartholomew officiating. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. To view Noreen s guest book, offer condolences and share memories, please visit www.jgfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given to Stillwater Lutheran Church.