Norma Barrett

Norma Jean Barrett, passed away January 11th, 2020 at the age of 90 after suffering a stroke. She was a resident of the Pondera Medical Center Extended Care.

Born on October 3rd, 1929 to Oscar and Evelyn (Broderson) Lake in Loring Montana. She was one of six children in that family.

Mom boarded in Malta for High School because she couldn't drive back and forth to attend classes. She worked as a telephone operator on the switchboard and later at the Malta Rural Electric Coop. After graduating in 1948 she married Clifford C. Barrett her High School sweetheart September 2nd, 1949. They had fifty-six years together until Dad passed away from Leukemia in the fall of 2005.

While living in Malta Montana they had four children together. Life was good on the little 8 1/2 acre farm with a cow, a horse named Debbie, chickens, assorted cats and a dog named Queeny. Over the years all the Aunts, Uncles, and cousins would gather for holidays and camping trips.

In the fall of 1966, the family moved to Choteau. Cliff and Norma bought a home that was built in 1905. The main street property included an apartment and a garage which was converted to Norma's Fabric Shop in 1969. Mom loved sewing and taught classes. As a member of the Soroptimists she was involved in community projects. She closed the store when she said, "No one will pay $4.99 for a yard of fabric." Their next venture was purchasing the Lincoln Apartments on main street Choteau which they owned for many years.

Mom loved sewing, painting watercolors, and gardening. They built the yellow house in 1978. Norma and Cliff shared painting as a hobby and attended many Art Shows to display their work. Norma was an excellent cook and feeding folks was her specialty. After purchasing their first RV in 1992 they traveled the south western United States and settled every winter in Yuma, AZ. Fifteen winters later they had many friends from all over the US and Canada. Together they lived, loved, and danced their way through life.

Norma is survived by her son Larry (Martha) of Clinton, Montana; three daughters Rhonda (Steve) Moser of Boise, Idaho, Bonnie (Jody) Field of Valier, Montana and Lori Chapman of Tacoma, Washington; a brother Robert Lake of Roseburg, Oregon; Grandchildren Chad (Kari) Barrett, Rowdie (Jim) Graves, Crista Barrett, Jess Field, Meghan and Tylor Chapman; Great-grandchildren Branden, Ashley, Kaden Barrett, Joshua and Bryce Graves.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Clifford; two brothers, Bill and Martin Lake, two sisters Merle Zajakawski and Della Drydahl; and grandson Justin Field. She will be interred at the Choteau Cemetery next to her husband.

Condolences may be left on-line at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com