Norma Cannon

Norma Cannon was born July 17, 1929, in Scranton, Pa., to Gus and Clara Neuls. She was the eldest of two children, sharing a close bond with her brother, Karl.
She spent her first years in Scranton speaking only German. When she was a young child, the Neuls family moved to Dewey, S.D., on her father’s homestead, beginning a life-long tenderness in her heart for the Black Hills of South Dakota.
She attended the lower grades of school at Twelve Mile, outside of Custer,  S.D., and there she learned to speak English. Her upper grades were taken in Custer where she boarded with a family in Custer during the week. Her weekends were spent at the family homestead.
She graduated from Custer High School and on New Year’s Eve of the same year, 1947, she married the love of her life, Douglas Cannon, of Custer.
Douglas and Norma were blessed with three children: Cathy, Gary and Bruce while living in Custer. Shortly after the birth of their youngest son, Norma and Doug moved along with her parents Gus and Clara Neuls to St. Maries, Idaho, where they raised their family and ranched 10 miles south of town. During those years, Norma worked as a clerk in the grocery store and then as Clerk of Courts for Benewah County, Idaho.
Doug and Norma loved to spend their weekends dancing at local community halls. She was active with 4-H as a leader and involved in many other community events.
In the late 1970s Norma and Douglas purchased acreage in Burton, British Columbia, Canada and spent summers there for several years. They made a permanent move to Burton in the early 1980s and received dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
True to her warm personality, Norma was an involved member of the Burton, B.C. community, including her participation in Carols by Candlelight and numerous other community events. She was a member of Red Hat Ladies and a lifetime member of the Burton Senior Citizens. She was very active in Burton’s St. Andrews United Church and had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances with whom you could regularly find her sharing a cup of coffee, a good story and a laugh.
Following her husband Doug’s death in 2006, Norma moved to Rockglen, Saskatchewan, Canada with her daughter Cathy, then to Scobey, Mont., where she remained until her death  June 17, 2021. She was 91.
Together her family will celebrate Norma’s playful and loving spirit and abundantly full life. Norma exemplified being present, having fun, causing a little trouble and treasuring every ounce of life.
With a sparkle in her eye and the animated lift of an eyebrow, she could tell a legendary story about snow bank-busting in a mini van, rattle snake blasting or mistaking the speed limit and driving 80 miles per hour instead of kilometer per hour. She had an exceptional gift of “noony-nooing” lullabies in a rocking chair and boda bed making for sleep overs, and Christmas at her home in Burton was nothing short of magical.
“GG,” as she was affectionately called by all of her great-grandchildren, was the master of cinnamon roll making and filling a refrigerator to make sure that everyone was fed—and fed well! She wasn’t afraid of a challenge and once made “one of everything” just to poke fun at her son-in-law for being indecisive about breakfast.
She was a lover of chocolate, rum and good German food, but mostly of sharing those things around a table with family. She loved people genuinely and unreservedly and could make a friend anywhere. As the family historian, her lifelong work gifted her family with the greatest treasure—a rich, detailed history and a collection of countless handwritten notes and cards. She never missed a birthday or a big moment.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas E. Cannon; parents, Gus and Clara Neuls; brother, Karl Neuls; and father and mother in law Charles and Lydia Cannon.
She is loved and remembered by her daughter, Cathy Cannon of Scobey; Gary (Donna) Cannon of St. Maries and Bruce (Geri) Cannon of Post Falls, Idaho; grandchildren Shauna (Terry) Farver of Scobey, Hollie Cannon of Deming, N.M., Brandy Cannon of Roy, Wash., Brenda (Hank) Carter of Pocatello, Idaho, Faydra Fuller of Spokane, Wash., and Torrey Cannon of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; 13 great-grandchildren plus their spouses who she joyfully claimed as her own;  and a great-great grandchild expected to arrive at the end of this year.
Norma’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to DeAnna and the entire staff at Daniels Memorial Hospital for their very special care of Norma. Thank you also to the Daniels County Ambulance Crew and Dawn Lee.