Rodessa June Bartel Norton, 96

Rodessa was born on Dec. 5, 1928, in Kalispell to Anton and Grace (Brown) Bartel and passed just short of her 97th birthday. She was raised with her six siblings in a home on the Flathead River as her father operated a ferry across the river for the county. 

She married Phillip Norton on Sept. 1, 194,5 and raised six children. When her husband became disabled, Rodessa went to work at the Flathead County Nursing Home and later worked for several years doing cleaning and other odd jobs at Pepsi Cola, where she made many friends. Never one to be idle, she also worked at a laundry and finally retired and spent time babysitting her grandkids. Rodessa was no stranger to hard work and maintained her own home and yard until about a year and a half ago. 

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985 and her three youngest daughters, Cindy Dell, Bea and husband, Greg Peterson, son-in-law, Art Hayes and Deborah Brown. 

She is survived by her daughter, Jan Weller (Roger) and children, Renee, Derek, and Denise Weller; Linda Hayes and her children, Andrea (Rob) Benitz and Alicia Hayes; son-in-law, Terry Dell; Steven Norton (Hazel); Bea’s children, Phillip Peterson, and JanMichael and Deborah’s daughter, Kimberly Brown.

Rodessa will be buried with her husband at Glacier Memorial Gardens at a private service. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.