JOHN NORBERG obituary

CHINOOK/LIBBY - John Melvin Norberg Jr., 67, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, of heart failure in Kalispell.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. A luncheon will follow in Libby. A burial service will be held at 11 a.m.

aturday at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook.

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.

In 1960, he 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 attended Northern Montana College in Havre. 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 worked part time until his death.

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 firefighter 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.

Survivors include his daughters, Terri (Jim) Hartly of Livingston, Kim (Michael) Everts of Bozeman and Wendy (Bob) Wilson of Kalispell; five grandsons; two granddaughters; brother, Frank Norberg of Erlanger, Ky.; and sisters, Dixie Darby of Pine Mt. Valle, Ga.; Darlene Warrington of Laurel, and Darla Plouffe of Chinook.

Memorial donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 200 W. Larch, Libby, MT 59923.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.