Thelma Norskog

Thelma Hetherington was born January 5, 1941 in Whitehall, MT to Lorraine and James Hetherington.  With her older sister, Lona, she completed their family of four.

 

She grew up in Livingston, MT and that was where she met the love of her life, Leigh Norskog.  Leigh was the cousin of Thelma’s best friend.  The favorite story was that Thelma was dared to sit on Leigh’s lap, and she did.  He stood up and dropped her on the floor and walked off.  Dad always ended the story with “but I called her later...”

 

Thelma and Leigh were married September 30, 1958.  After Leigh enlisted in the Navy they moved to Bremerton, WA where daughter Lorrie was born.  In 1963 they moved to Billings where twins Michael and Marty were born in 1964.  They later moved to Missoula and in 1969 they bought the home that they were to spend the rest of their lives in.  

 

Thelma worked for the USFS for over 30 years.  Before she retired, she spent several years working for the Office of Management and Budget.  She was a woman before her time.  While working for the USFS she became a communications officer and spent time every summer in fire camps.  She was also Montana’s first Federal Woman’s Coordinator.  After she retired, she still worked summers at the Smoke Jumper Base and loved every minute of it.

 

Thelma and Leigh’s 67th anniversary would have been September 30.  Leigh passed August 18, 2025.  Thelma passed six weeks and two days later in the early morning hours of October 1.  She was preceded in death by loving husband Leigh, her father, James Hetherington, mother Lorraine Christ and sister Lona Morehouse.  Thelma is survived by her step-father, Papa, Arthur (Dotty) Christ, her children Lorrie (Darold) Biltoft, Michael (Lisa) Norskog and Marty Norskog.  Her grandchildren Melissa Hanson, Cathy (Zane) Pocha, Bryant Norskog, Preston Norskog and Marissa Norskog and her Great Grandchildren Maycie and Freya Pocha and many nieces and nephews.

 

Mom and Dad are together again and are at peace.