Norma Carleen Whitson

Norma Whitson, who was a mainstay of the Northern Hotel for nearly four decades, capably tending to the most minute details of countless weddings and anniversaries, Christmas parties and conventions, Bar Mitzvahs and Rotary lunches, died Jan. 3, 2013, in Portland, Ore., from complications of surgery. She was 85 years old. Norma Carleen Burke was born March 9, 1927 in Hedgesville, Mont., to Carl and Thelma (Young) Burke and older brothers Ed and Lester. Her father worked for the oil refinery and her mother was a homemaker. When she was five, the family moved to Laurel. At Laurel High School, she was a cheerleader, worked as a soda jerk, and became friends with many girls who enjoyed her vibrant personality and who, coincidentally, also wanted to date her good-looking older brothers. She went on to attend the University of Montana. Norma married and gave birth to daughters Debby in 1949 and Cheri in 1952, and shortly thereafter, divorced. Norma went to work for Central Distributing, then Vaughn Ragsdale, and finally in 1964, the Northern Hotel. There for 38 years Norma built her life around the hotel, making sure everybody was taken care of, and was sometimes known as “Ms. Northern” because she had worked there so long. Always ready to help the customer with a smile and a cup of coffee. As she said - she drank 36 cups of coffee a day because people were always stopping by to chat with her. She hand-typed menus for such classics as Chicken Divan and Chicken Cordon Bleu and Baron of Beef with Parker House Rolls on her Royal manual typewriter. She was friends with everyone - police officers and health inspectors - Sen. Mike Mansfield - Alberta Bair - and Mary Alice Fortin. At all functions, she made sure that the right mints and nuts were at hand, picked up rolls at the supermarket if they would run out, and tended to the holiday decorations. The long hours were exhausting, and holidays especially so, but she loved her job. She was still working at age 75 when she was laid off in 2002 after an ownership change. "I've never missed a day of work,” she was quoted in the Billings Gazette, adding that “that darn hotel has been most of my life.” She was excited to learn that the hotel is going to reopen this spring. She faithfully attended Saturday night Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and lived in the same small two-story house in Billings for 60 years. She religiously took her morning walk and chatted with many folks along the way. She looked forward to her trips to Portland to visit family and a few other cities along the way...New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. After a long day at work or play, she enjoyed kicking off her shoes and putting on her slippers. Always up for an adventure - “I love to go, I love to shop,” she would say, “but as soon as I find a chair, I love to sit.” She is survived by daughters Debby Whitson of Beaverton, Ore., and Cheri Swoboda ( Gary), and grandsons Ryan and Tim, all of Portland, Ore., and nieces Cindy Capps of Belton, Texas, and Joyce (Albert) Visser of Billings; Gayle (Stan) Kautz ; Kathy (Cleve) Hull; Judy Burke and Janny Burke (Wayne) all of Laurel. Her parents Carl and Thelma, and brothers Ed (Helene) and Lester (Marji) all preceded her in death. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday Jan. 12, 2013, at. St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon. A celebration of life will be held later in Billings. Remembrances are suggested to: Martha & Mary Ministries, 4303 S.E. Henderson St. Portland, Ore. 97206, “in remembrance of Norma Whitson.” Arrangements by Autumn Funerals, Cremation & Burial, Tigard, Oregon.