Norman Schoenthal

Dr. Norman Dean “Stormin' Norm” Schoenthal passed away on September 30, 2021 at St. John's nursing home in Billings, Montana, at the age of 93. Norman was born on July 17,1928, at the Bertram home place located 6 miles west of Herman, Minnesota, on the way to Wheaton, in Travis County. His father, Edward John Schoenthal, and mother, Minnie Emma Bertram, farmed a few miles from the home place. In 1932, Ed and Minnie moved from the farm near Herman to a farm near White Rock, South Dakota. 10 years later, the Schoenthal family moved to California and Ed and Minnie purchased 5 acres of land near Sebastopol. Norman learned to prune the apple trees on the neglected orchard. After he graduated from high school, he attended college at Santa Rosa Junior College. On the college bulletin board, he saw an ad recruiting teachers for North Dakota schools. Since he didn't own a car, he hitchhiked to the area and was hired to teach at a one room school near Hankinson, ND. It was during summer school at Valley City State Teachers' College, he met a Wyndmere, North Dakota, farm girl named Colleen Jones. Shortly after they were married, Norm was drafted into the army and became a medic and instructor. In 1952, while Norm was stationed in San Antonio, TX, their first son, Terrence (Terry) was born. Once out of the army, Norm used the GI bill to finish his degree and began teaching science and music in Leonard, N.D. A week before the move, Michelle (Shelly) was born. After three years in Leonard, he was called to Three Forks, Montana, to teach high school science. Another son, Galeon, joined the family. While in Three Forks, Norm decided to pursue his PhD at Montana State University. During the summer of 1958, Norman began working on his thesis, a study of the effects of DDT on fish. The family spent that summer in Ovando, Montana, at the fish hatchery. Then in the fall, Norm landed a job teaching biology and chemistry at Senior High School in Billings, while continuing his research during the summer. Stewart was born in Billings, in 1960. Norm spent one year teaching at Eastern Montana College, three years at South Dakota State College in Brookings, before being lured back to Montana to once again teach at EMC. In 1971, he ran for Alderman of Billings City Council and won the election. He completed two terms until 1975 and was instrumental in zoning laws and environmental issues for the city of Billings. A year's sabbatical from Eastern Montana College to South Africa, in 1975, where he worked in the field of reclamation in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, was a fantastic adventure. His project involved reclaiming land that was disturbed by the construction of a super highway through Africa. Norman married Sherry Butcher in 1978. Together they owned the Kitchen Cupboard in the Rimrock Mall and later remodeled a vacant store downtown for another location. Norman and Sherry divorced after 16 years of marriage but remained good friends until his death. Norm was an Army reservist for over thirty years. For the two weeks each summer he traveled to various locations with his water purification unit. In 1987, he received the Legion of Merit Award as a Command Sergeant Major for his service. In the winter months, he could be found skiing the slopes on Red Lodge Mountain as a Ski Patrolman or backcountry skiing near Yellowstone Park. The summers were spent teaching alpine ecology at the EMC A-frame near Red Lodge, taking students on a three week marine biology trip to the Oregon Coast or taking his Boy Scout troop backpacking. Skiing, spelunking in the Pryor Mountains, canoeing down Yankee Jim Canyon and the Yellowstone River, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, being chased by moose, hitting a bear with his Volkswagen van, watching his van float down the canal because he forgot to put on his break, getting stuck on Norm's Island in the Gator with Mary Johnson, and traveling the U.S. and the world made up for some great stories. After retiring from EMC, Norm joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Fiji. He worked on developing environmental education programs for the schools and better methods of preserving the shorelines with mangroves. His students in Suva planted over 3000 mangrove seedlings and initiated an “Adopt a Beach” program now known as “Keep Fiji Beautiful.” When Norm arrived back in Billings, he began working for Yellowstone Parks Association as a volunteer and the Two Moon Park caretaker. He worked diligently to improve and build new trails. The old gravel pit near Riverfront Park became two ponds and work began to plant vegetation to mimic the Montana ecosystems. Then came the planning of the Conservation Center renamed Montana Audubon Center and the building of the Norm Schoenthal Field Lab. Nine trips to the West Coast with the 8th graders from Canyon Creek School were experiences he cherished. For the last 20 years, Norm and Mary Johnson set out every Thursday morning (through rain, snow and heat) to conduct a bird survey at the Audubon Center, Norm's Island and Riverside Park. With these records, he studied the trends of bird migrations. In 2006, Norm contracted a staph infection in his back. The result of the extensive surgery to repair his spine, later put him in a wheelchair. Even with his physical limitations, he was able to supervise prison inmates, boy scouts, church groups, Alternatives, YRPA, friends and family to continue the grunt work for his projects. His legacy to his family was this; don't afraid of any challenge, embrace life to the fullest, be able to laugh at yourself and your stupid mistakes, work hard but make it fun, try to control your temper (hard one for Norm), give back to your community and believe in Science because God gave the scientists the brains to make the world better. Norm is survived by his ex-wife Sherry Porter, his sons; Terry (Martha) Schoenthal, Galeon (Margaret) Schoenthal, Stewart (Susan) Schoenthal; daughter Michelle (Lyle) King; grandchildren; Kristen (Eric) Holland, Joshua (Sandra) King and Drew (Beth) King, Whitney (David) Sapiro, Jennifer (David) Wong; step grandson, Wes (Katie) Pippinger great grandchildren Katie and Natalie Holland, Lela and Monty Boone White-King, Erik Sellars, Melody Wong, Crosby and Xander Pippinger, and his sister Becky (Cal) Calloway. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Galeon, his 1st wife, Colleen, and his wonderful friend Jean Smith. A big thanks to Norm's Billings family who helped him stay at Two Moon as long as possible; Kris Schmidt, Sherry Porter, Ron Smith, Bob Mackin, Roger Williams, Mary Johnson, Fran and Denis Nunn, John Reed, Karen Wilcox, Don Worth and so many more. Also thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at St. John's for making his last few months tolerable, even under lockdown. Memorials may be sent to the Norm Schoenthal Scholarship Fund at MSUB Foundation, Yellowstone River Parks Association, Montana Audubon Center or a charity of your choice You may also: Take a walk at Two Moon Park or on Norm's Island, plant a tree, volunteer a few hours to a community project or attend a Billings Symphony concert. Make a toast to Norm with a glass of warm Chardonnay “after the sun goes over the yardarm”. There will not be a funeral service because of Covid but a “Celebration of Life” will be planned for a later date.. We are asking those of you who would like to share a “Norm story”, please send them to Michelle (Shelly) King, P.O. Box 1102, Dayton, WY 82836 or to telleroftales402@gmail.com. A quote from Zoe Gerhart - a long time friend of Norms “He is uniquely Norm, a man of strength, courage and vision, who, human that he is, trips and stumbles, yet always finds the Spirit, the Soul, to emerge stronger and gentler, more heartful and tolerant. The song that lures others to him is the song of integrity, joy, hope, promise, creativity, and resiliency. I live over 1000 miles away from this man, but I could hear his song even in Reno, Nevada. I want the folks of Billings, Montana, to realize that for over 60 years this Angel has been blessing them, their river and their lands, and that seeds he has planted will bless their children and grandchildren and generations to come.”