Alberta Chelsea Norman (Clinkenbeard)

Alberta Chelsea Norman

August 21, 1927 ~ February 20, 2014

Alberta, age 86, of Montrose died February 20, 2014.  All of her family members were able to be with her and celebrate her life and family in the week prior to her death.  A Memorial Service will be held a later date in the spring.

Alberta Chelsea Clinkenbeard was born August 21, 1927 near Cope, Colorado, in a sod house on the farm her parents had homesteaded.  She was the youngest of nine children.  To attend school she rode a horse with her two older sisters to a one room school house.  One of her many chores was collecting buffalo chips for fuel and cleaning the glass globes of the Kerosene lanterns used for light.

After graduating from high school with a class of three, she married a neighboring farm boy, Denzel Norman.  Together they farmed and operated a small grocery store in Cope.  In 1956, the family moved to Eagle, Colorado and there ran a cattle ranch on Brush Creek for many years.  Alberta raised a huge garden and canned most of the family’s food.  She also sewed most of her daughter’s clothing and enjoyed family gatherings.  In 1972 the ranch in Brush Creek was sold.  Denzel and Alberta were able to enjoy several years to travel.  When Denzel became ill they moved to Montrose to be close to family.  Alberta never stopped missing her husband and in her later years she enjoyed playing cards, dominos and outings with a group of dear friends, but was always happiest with a baby in her lap.

Alberta was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, and her son-in-law, Mike Rea.  She is survived by her daughters, Sheryl (Lyle) Alexander and Jeri Rea of Montrose, Faelynn (Jim) DuHadway of Berthoud, Colorado; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.  Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Co.