Norman Henry Courchesne

Norman Courchesne, 85 years old, passed away on 4/22/2023 at his place in Hamilton, MT. Norman was born on May 17, 1937 in Fahler, Alberta, the son of Alphonse ‘Cush’ Courchesne and Juliette Courchesne. Norman grew up on a farm near Fahler the eldest of 3 children- his sister Pauline and brother Raymond. His parents at different times owned the town’s hotel and movie theater and Norman worked there as well as the local bowling alley setting up bowling pins. He was a good student, and even skipped a grade and graduated at the age of 17. After graduation he came to the United States and attended college in California. He joined the U.S. Air Force, trained in electronics, and was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Marshall Islands.

With his training as an electronic technician, Norm joined the National Weather Service and worked for them his entire career; living in California and Honolulu in the 60’s, Medford, Oregon and Great Falls, Montana in the 70’s and 80’s and finally Maryland in the 90’s. In California, he married Mercedes and together they raised three boys; Mike, Steve and John. Norm was always a supportive and encouraging Dad, playing games with us and coaching little league. He created lots of fond memories for us boys with camping and fishing trips, adventures with the horses and other animals on the farm in Medford, and tolerated our misadventures in our suburb of Great Falls. After the boys all graduated and left home, Norm and Mercedes divorced in ’89. Still working for the weather service, Norman accepted a transfer to Maryland in ’90 and married Joanne in ’91. When they divorced in ’97, Norman retired and spent the next 9 years in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, then moved to Hamilton in 2016 to be closer to family. Norm was a proud father and grandfather. He always remembered your birthday, and offered to help in any way he could. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Norm was a gregarious man, making lots of friends wherever he went. Over the years, Norm had plenty of ‘watering holes’ he frequented and there he befriended many people. He made a point to remember them and after 85 years he outlived many of them, and often complained that so many of his friends had passed on. In his last years, Norm may have grown a little more ornery, but even that didn’t stop him from making more friends. His most recent watering hole in town was Marley’s and we would like to thank his ‘family’ down there for the love they showed him and the memorial they held.

Norm was truly one-of-a-kind and he ‘did it his way’ and we loved him for it.

Norman was predeceased by his parents, his brother Raymond, and his son Michael. Norman is survived by his sister Pauline, his two sons, John and his wife Yvonne of Hamilton, and his son Steve and his wife Kate of Fletcher Oklahoma, and his grandchildren; Rebecca, Mercedes, Steven, Gus and Em.