Norma Montelbetti

Norma Montelbetti, 91, passed away on June 11, 2024.

Norma was born May 19, 1933, in a three-room log home on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada to William and Catharina (Friesen) Dyck. She had two older brothers ( Edwin, John) and a sister (Ruby). With her family, grandparents, and many aunts and uncles living close by, she grew up surrounded by a loving, Mennonite family. She was ‘Daddy’s girl’ and she learned many valuable lessons from following him around the farm that served her well throughout her life. When the war ended, her dad decided to leave the farm and move to town to work as a carpenter. It was here, at age 15 that Norma met Lloyd B Robinson. At 16, she got Rheumatic fever which left her with arthritis and pain for the rest of her life- but she never let it stop her! Her daddy, her best friend, died suddenly the same year. Two years later, at the age of 18, she married Lloyd and worked hard putting him through university. During this time, they started a family with a son, Barton, born in 1955. After Lloyd graduated with his PhD, He was offered a job at the nuclear plant near Deep River, Ontario, where their daughter Margo was born. Norma was always busy. She was an accomplished carpenter (skills she learned from her dad). She also sewed her children’s clothes, baked bread, cooked, and joined the Girl Guides as a leader. In 1960 Lloyd was offered a job in northern California and the family left Canada -and the mosquitoes- behind.

 As a cub scout leader, a girl scout leader, the Welcome Wagon head, and a volunteer for whoever needed her in their new home in California, Norma was rarely bored. She had not graduated high school because of Rheumatic fever, so she studied for and got her GED so she could take college classes and learn new things- like ceramics. She had a wheel and a kiln in the garage. She loved not having snow in the winters and became a true Californian. In 1967, Lloyd was offered a position in France for 6 months so Norma packed up the family and off they went for an incredible adventure. In 1973, Norma took her daughter on a cruise to Mexico, then studied for and earned her Real Estate license. That was the beginning of many changes. She and Lloyd divorced shortly after and Norma moved down to Southern California where she became a ‘Jill of all trades’, remodeling homes for a real estate office. Her next adventure was buying a bird store which did well until a bird wholesaler moved in nearby. Then it was back to remodeling homes. In 1980 she met Robert Hoff. He bought an Italian deli and Norma went to work for him. They were married shortly after. After eight years they quit the deli and bought an RV to go ‘full-timing’. They never regretted it. Norma accepted a job making visitor guides for campgrounds which took them all over the US. Bob died of complications from surgery in 2002, and Norma kept traveling alone in the motorhome for several more years.

One day, while relaxing at the Death Valley Days RV camp, she met a younger man named Jim (James) Montelbetti. She was not in the least interested in another relationship, but he persisted - they were married a couple of months later. Jim loved her and treated her like a queen. They went on many adventures together- cruises, European trips, RV exploring, and so much more. Although they bought a house, they continued RVing until Jim was unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced Parkinsons' and was no longer able to drive. They moved to a waterfront property in Discovery Bay, California, to be near her son. They continued to be as active as possible, enjoying friends and family, until Jim passed away. Losing her best friend was hard on her, but she continued enjoying life in California. In 2022, at 89, she made the very difficult decision (and one she regretted) to leave California for Idaho, with her little dog Cuddles, to live close to her Daughter. She and Cuddles continued to live independently for nearly two more years until passing away, shortly after her 91st birthday, on June 11, 2024

She is survived by her son Barton D. Robinson, daughter Margo K. Clayson (Ron Clayson), grandchildren Sandi, Aaron, Daniel, Katrina, Joseph, Blake, Gabrielle, and Nicole, and her 9 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 23, from 2-5 pm at the residence of Margo Clayson: 1054 E. Inman Road, Inkom, Idaho 83245