Goodie Norby quietly, peacefully, and humbly passed on to her heavenly home on August 5, 2022. She passed away just 24 days before her 100th birthday
Gudve Alise Lindseth was born on August 29, 1922, to Tomas and Sofia Lindseth on the family farm near Wildrose, ND. Her parents raised 8 children in a one-bedroom house with a living room and large kitchen. There she learned to take care of herself and work hard. In 1942, they moved into a home in Crosby, ND. In her life, she babysat, did housework waitressed, was a retail clerk, and worked in a cookie factory and an auto factory. After putting the youngest daughter in college, Goodie went to work at House of Fabrics and then Spencers of Montana where she worked for 18 years until she was 73. She was the last living member of her family and lived to be the oldest.
Goodie met Melvin Norby at a dance, dated for 18 months, and was married in Crosby, ND in 1951. They were married 65 ½ years. They lived and worked for FA Buttrey Co. in Havre, MT before moving to Great Falls in 1960. Mel and Goodie enjoyed dinner out with a tight group of good friends and loved to go dancing. When they danced, they moved as one. She was a healthy, and strong woman living in her own home by herself until her death. In a Tribune article in 2012, she was quoted as saying, “I have no regrets. Life is what you make it, I’m just glad I’m here.”
Mel and Goodie had three daughters, Gloria, Betty, and June. Goodie made it her life’s mission to care for and raise them in a caring, Christian home. She took on many small in-home jobs while raising her girls such as babysitting and ironing, but the girls were always her first priority. Goodie also loved the time she spent with her grandchildren, Steve (Hailey) McCarvel, Mandy Brumwell, Melanie (Kyle Olson) Brumwell, Traci (Johnny) Myers, Krista (Grant Stancliff), and Derek (Autumn) Benson. GG (as she was called by her great-grandchildren) was lucky enough to know and participate with her great-grandchildren, Grant Brumwell, Kip and Tucker Olson, Riley Benson and Daxton, and Brody and Makenzie Myers.
Goodie loved to sew, quilt, do needlework, cook, and bake. She is most known for her Hardanger pieces, dishcloths, and buttermilk donuts. All of which she worked on until her death. She prided herself on her clean house, pristine yard, beautiful flowers and gardens. Goodie was very proud of her Norwegian heritage.
She was an active member of New Hope Lutheran Church and before that was involved at Faith Lutheran Church. When asked how she lived so long, she replies, “Homemade buttermilk Doughnuts and Coffee every morning.” She had one donut with her first cup of coffee every day for 60 years. She began working out at Curves Fitness Center in 1996 and continued until 2015.
She and Mel traveled to many places – Hawaii, Germany, Norway, Venezuela, and Branson, MO. For 24 years they were “snowbirds” in Peoria, Arizona. Most vacations were taken to the motherland – Little Norway (North Dakota) - to visit family.
She is survived by her daughters, Gloria McCarvel, Betty (Ron) Brumwell, and June (Bob) Benson; as well as 6 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin; her parents; siblings; Ann, Lillian, Hans, Jens, Elling, John, Ted; and son-in-law, John McCarvel, Jr.
Hard-working hands and a humble spirit are now at rest with God. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Services will be held on September 3, 2022, at New Hope Lutheran Church at 10:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Peace Hospice, or New Hope Lutheran Church.
