Norma Lydia (Heinle) Petty

HAMILTON – Norma L. Petty passed away February 26, 2023, in Hamilton, Montana, with her loving family at her side.

Born March 1, 1928, to AJ and Anna Margaret Heinle at Hebron, North Dakota, Norma was the sixth of eight siblings, with five older sisters and two younger brothers.

After graduating from Hebron High School, she attended Valley City State College and graduated from Dickinson State University. She taught school at Streeter, North Dakota, Park River, North Dakota, and Williston, North Dakota. She met her husband, Charles R. Petty, in Williston, North Dakota. Charles graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and took an internship in the Army. Dr. Petty worked at many places while in the Army, including Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, Ireland Army Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and served at the American Embassy in Cambodia.

They were married at St. John's Church in Hebron, North Dakota on July 24, 1954, and were married for nearly 69 years.

Norma loved the outdoors, gardening, hiking, skiing, and biking. She did many bike trips with her husband and friends through the Vermont Biking Tours, which included rides in Montana, Washington, British Columbia, New Zealand, Prince Edward Island, and Vermont.

Living in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley gave them opportunities for much backpacking, camping, and skiing.

Norma was a longtime member of the United Methodist-American Baptist Church and was active in many church functions, which included being a member of the choir and director of Christmas Tree Lane.

Survivors are her husband, Charles of Hamilton, Montana, sons, Kirk (Carole) of Ranchester, Wyoming and Charles, Jr. (Kayla) of Priest River, Idaho, five grandchildren, Brian Petty (Alison) of Moscow, Idaho, Matthew Petty (Hailey) of Ranchester, Wyoming, Michelle Petty of Laramie, Wyoming, Christianne McKay (Corban) of North Bend, Washington, Allison Jampsa (Kyle) of Kent, Washington, four great-grandchildren, Owen and Quin Petty of Sheridan, Wyoming and Sylvia and Wesley Petty of Moscow, Idaho, sister, Esther Jones of San Diego, California, God­daughter, Mary Buchli (Jack Hudspeth) of Big Sky, Montana, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death were her parents, sisters, Loretta Berdahl of Santa Cruz, California, Martha Cords of Sun City, Arizona, Lillian Buchli of Sun City, Arizona, and Ruth Keltsrup of Reno, Nevada, and brothers, Wally Heinle of Dickinson, North Dakota and Kenneth Heinle of Englewood, Colorado.

A memorial service to celebrate Norma's life will be held Friday, March 3, 2023, at 1 :00 pm, at Daly-Leach Chapel, in Hamilton, Montana. A reception will follow in the Daly-Leach Community Room. Interment will take place at the Riverview Cemetery, in Hamilton, Montana. The family suggests memorials to Marcus Daly Hospital (Bitterroot Health), the Daly Mansion, or the United Methodist-American Baptist Church. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

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