Shirley Ann Norvell, age 79, of Townsend, MT

The Live Broadcast will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the service at 2:00 PM

Shirley (Barchard) Norvell, of Townsend, Montana, died Friday, May 27, 2022 at St. Peter’s Health Center in Helena, MT due to natural causes. She was 79.

Shirley was born on August 16, 1942 in Rockford, Illinois, to John Barchard and Mary (Clark) Barchard, the youngest of 14 children.  She grew up on the family farm outside Kirkland, Ill. and attended Hiawatha High School. She held a job while in her teens and shared an apartment with sister Carol until she met Dan Norvell in 1961 while visiting with sister Joyce Littlejohn, whose husband Maynard(Red), drove truck alongside Dan.  Shirley and Dan married in 1961, living in Love’s Park, Ill. during that time.  Daughter Taffy was born in 1962, followed by son Brad in 1964. The young family moved to central Illinois shortly after that, and Dan had several jobs in farm work in those years.  Youngest son Ted was born in 1965, while they were living in Huntsville, Ill. Dan went to work for Standard OIl, and Shirley juggled caring for the kids with helping Dan in the fertilizer plant business.  In 1970, Dan and Shirley moved closer to Camden, Ill, purchasing some acreage there. Shirley was an avid gardener and stellar cook.  She knew a lot about canning and preserving food, and her homemade breads, pastries, cakes, and meals were always memorable.  In 1983, Dan and Shirley, Taffy & Ted moved West to Montana, starting on Ross Gulch and later relocating to 207 N. Maple St in Townsend MT. They lived there contentedly for 35 years. Shirley worked a number of jobs after moving to Townsend, including sorting potatoes, cooking at the old Fireside restaurant, as a CNA at the old County Nursing Home on the hill, CNA at the hospital in town, home health care for Broadwater County residents and Westmont in Helena, camp cook for the Bridgewaters up at the Elk farm. She had her own food catering business for years, and made cakes, pies and other delicious dishes for friends who asked.  Mom loved to cook, and got a lot of pleasure out of feeding people. She volunteered when she could at the food bank and at the C&MA church where she and Dan attended.  She really enjoyed the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays in the summer, and taking long walks around her neighborhood. In 2019, Dan was moved to Assisted Living outside Townsend;he passed away in December 2021. Shirley continued to live at the house in Townsend until she broke her hip in 2021 and was transferred to Edgewood Senior living, a memory care facility in Helena, MT. Her health had begun to decline rapidly, and she passed on May 27, 2022 due to organ failure.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Daniel, her parents John and Mary, sisters Gladys, Mildred, Helen, Marge, Dorothy, and Carol, and brother Donald. She is survived by her children, Taffy(Will) Wertz of Toston, MT, Brad Norvell of Townsend MT, and  Ted(Carrie) Norvell of Greenville TX;grandchildren Seth Wertz of Toston, Rachel Wertz of Helena MT, Nick Norvell of Farmersville, TX , Dillon Norvell of Farmersville, Caleb Wertz of Toston MT, & Molly Norvell of Farmersville TX;great granddaughter Gwen Wertz of Helena;Brother John Barchard of McHenry IL, sisters Marian(Claude)Black of Las Vegas NV, Betty Adolfsen, and Joyce Littlejohn, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place; a dual celebration of life will be held for both Daniel and Shirley on July 9, 2022 at 2pm at the Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Townsend MT. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials/donations be directed to The Alzheimer’s Association: Shirley Norvell Tribute:   http://www.alz.org   phone: 1-800-272-3900 or Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave, FL 17, Chicago IL 60601.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Her Life

2:00 PM

Saturday July 9, 2022

Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

212 Broadway

Townsend, MT

View map

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.