Norma Berenice Montague

Norma Montague 91 died peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Hinsdale, NH October 3, 2018. She moved to Hinsdale from Hillsborough NH in 2008 to be near her son after the death of her late husband Robert Fowle. In Hillsborough she enjoyed gardening and hosting visitors including all of Robert's family and friends as well as frequent visits from her children.
Norma was born in Silt Colorado August 11, 1927. After losing both her parents at an early age she was fortunate to be raised by her grandparents along with her brother. Some old fashion values were instilled and retained throughout her life. Her favorite saying was "to thine own self be true, and it must follow…Thou canst not then be false to any man". Besides Colorado Norma spent time growing up in Arizona where she developed her love of the desert there.
Norma moved to California to pursue her education and in 1948 married Dr. H. F. Stevens in Long Beach. While earning an RN degree she started to raise a family of three sons. They moved to Salt Lake, Boston, and eventually to Brattleboro, VT in December of 1967 where Dr. Stevens was director of radiology until his retirement. Norma completed a master's degree at Boston University and always enjoyed her time spent in Boston and with her many friends there. She also enjoyed travel, particularly in the southwest and also to Europe.
In 1988 Norma met her second husband Robert Fowle of Hillsborough NH. These years were a happy time for all concerned. Their best memories were made during frequent visits to Robert's camp on Highland Lake in Washington, NH along with other family members and friends, many of whom lived in the neighborhood along the lake. Summertime virtual "block" parties were not infrequent though spontaneous and low key without serious incident. In winter Norma lived out her dream of a traditional New England lifestyle. She cooked on an actual wood burning stove top with oven in the kitchen of an historic farmhouse. The electric range was for back up. She also had a magical green thumb and spent much of her time gardening spring thru fall and planting various flowers, bushes and trees.
Norma is survived by her sons Daniel Stevens of Hinsdale NH, David Stevens of Shrewsbury MA, her sister in law Ruth Montague and niece Linda with husband Terry Callahan of Rouge River Oregon, nephew Robert Montague currently in Nicaragua with his wife Caroline, step children Ken, Steve, Doug and wife Irene, grandchildren Heidi and Jodie, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. In recent years she has been especially close to Pam Hammon of Long Island, Lucille Forde in Oregon, and her dear friends Ruth and Paul Perry of Concord Mass. Also among friends and family who cannot all be mentioned are notably Pam Ledoux of Amherst MA, and Teddi Pease of Hinsdale NH. She was predeceased by her son James Stevens of Northampton MA, her brother Bill Montague of Rouge River Oregon, dear friends Shirley Storrs Allen of Salt Lake City and Carol Loveland of Logan Utah among others.
Burial and services will be private. A celebration of life will be held at a later time. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Brattleboro Oncology at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.