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Mary Jane
Norheim
July 16, 1929 – December 20, 2016
Mary Jane "Janey" (Zeek) Norheim went home to the arms of her Heavenly Father on December 20, 2016.
Janey was born the daughter of David and Alma Zeek on July 16, 1929 in Liberal, Kansas. Her family moved back and forth between Oklahoma, Arizona, and Kansas for the health of her sister, Sarah "Sally", who had asthma. When Janey was 10, her father, David passed away from a heart attack. Janey did her best to help her mother with the chores around the house. At age 16, Janey moved to New York to be with her beloved sister, BeBe. She attended night school and worked during the daytime.
Janey's mother worked as a housekeeper, and moved to Chinook to work for John Norheim. Eventually, her mother married John. On one of Janey's trips out to visit her mother in Montana, she met Ben Norheim, who would become her beloved husband and life-long partner. Ben and Janey were married in Chinook on January 21, 1950. They moved into a tiny trailer on the farm to help John with the farming. There were four children born to this union, Monty, Sherry, and Marlon.
Along with raising kids and helping Ben on the farm, Janey enjoyed making silk flower arrangements for family events and for the church. She also got the ceramic bug and started making ceramics, with her favorite being porcelain dolls. She took doll-making classes and made beautiful works of art in porcelain. Her dolls have taken awards at the Harlem Seed Show, the Havre Doll Show, and even awards in Billings. One of her bride dolls was displayed at the Moss Mansion in Billings.
Janey was so delighted when the grandkids started coming along. Then she was thrilled with the great-grandkids!
Janey enjoyed working in her church, her County Extension Group, helping the Democratic Party, working with the Farmer's Union, her Bible Study Group, and her doll-making group.
Ben and Janey shared laughter and tears as they raised their children, loved their grandchildren, and lived their lives, celebrating 65 years together just prior to Ben's death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bernard "Ben" Norheim in 2015; her parents, David and Alma Zeek; her brothers, Lloyd Zeek and Sidney Zeek; her sisters, Sarah Scoggins and BeBe Salt Graves; and an infant child, Richard John Norheim.
Janey is survived by her three children, Monty (Debbie) Norheim of Missoula, Sherry Norheim of Lavina, and Marlon Norheim of Lavina; her five grandchildren, Stephanie Schilling, Lander, WY, Chuck Schilling, Sidney, Dustin Schilling, Sidney, JoAnna (Mark) Monaco, Missoula, and Steven Norheim, Missoula; and her four great-grandchildren.
We thank all our friends and family for sharing our celebration for our mother, grandmother, wife, and friend.
Memorial donations may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, 1732 S. 72 nd Street W, Billings, MT 59106, or to the charity of the donor's choice.
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