John Melvin Norberg Jr., 67, passed away on Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, of heart failure in Kalispell. He was born July, 28, 1937, in Chinook, to John Melvin and Myrtle (Swenson) Norberg. He received his early education in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1957. He served in the National Guard of Montana after high school. He returned to Chinook and in 1960, married Nancy Buhmann. They had three daughters together. They were married until 1998.

John worked in the Buhmann family beekeeping business until 1967, when he then attended Northern Montana College in Havre. There he earned a degree in mechanical drafting.

In 1969, John and his family moved to Libby where he worked in the engineering department for St. Regis Paper Company, later known as Champion International. He began work for the city of Libby as a building inspector in 1994, where he still worked part-time.

John loved hunting, fishing, sports, his family, friends and his dog, Jesse. He enjoyed frequent trips to eastern Montana, especially to Chinook.

He played basketball, football, and baseball when he was younger, and continued to bowl on a league throughout his life. John coached his daughter, Wendy's, softball team for many years and was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church.

He was also a member of the Sons of Norway and a volunteer fire fighter for St. Regis and Champion. He remained an avid Libby Logger fan and attended many of their sporting events.

John was a loving father, and grandfather. He took pleasure in joking around with his grandchildren and others. He was blessed with many close friends. John was a fun-loving person and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his three daughters, Terri Hartly and husband, Jim, of Livingston, Kim Everts and husband, Michael, of Bozeman, and Wendy Wilson and husband, Bob, of Kalispell; five grandsons, Christopher and Andrew Hartly, Spencer Everts, Gavyn and Logan Wilson; two granddaughters, Alison and Bianca Everts; one brother, Frank Norberg, of Erlanger, Ky.; and three sisters, Dixie Darby of Pine Mountain Valley, Ga., Darlene Warrington of Laurel, and Darla Plouffe of Chinook.

Funeral services for John Melvin Norberg Jr. will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. A luncheon will follow in Libby. Burial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, in Chinook, at Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 200 W. Larch, Libby, MT 59923.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.