Fort Benton – Norma Clem (Hyatt) Wood, 93, of Loma, passed away in her sleep here at Missouri River Medical Center Nursing Home on March 3rd, 2020 after a long battle with dementia. Norma was a devoted and loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt to her large family.

Norma was born in Los Angeles, California on March 14, 1926. Her parents were from Texas and soon returned there where her father farmed with his parents at Briscoe. She started school in Briscoe. They returned to Lake Elsinore, California where the family again farmed, and she started high school. Her father bought land in the Goosebill area of Chouteau County and they moved to Fort Benton in the summer of 1942. Her father sold the Goosebill land and bought a farm near Virgelle – south of the river. She met her future husband as he was filling in for a teacher for a Radio class at Fort Benton High School. He had graduated in 1942 and she did in 1943. She and Jim Wood married in September of 1943. He had bought a farm near his uncle's farm near Loma in 1939. Norma and Jim farmed and ranched there for more than 70 years raising a family of 1 daughter and 4 sons. One of their grandsons continues to farm there.

She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener with many ribbons from the county fair. She was a hand-stitch quilter and produced more than two dozen, also receiving awards for them. Norma was a summertime teacher and a T-Ball coach for her grandchildren. An active member of the Fort Benton United Methodist church – she joined in 1942. She was a member of the Loma Circle, and a member of the choir, a Sunday School teacher, as well as holding several church offices throughout the years. Norma was also a Weight Watchers member and leader for many years.

Norma followed Jim into politics. She was a lay member of the Judicial Nomination Commission in the Schwinden Administration. She was a life-long Democrat.

She is survived by her daughter Julie (Ben) Bunker, sons Brian (Laura), Gar (Vivian), and Bill, daughter-in-law Sandi, and brother Rolly (Marina), and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, son Richard, and grandson Andrew, and great grandson Noah, father Clem and mother Clefa Hyatt, and brother Howard.

Memorial donations may be made in Norma's name to UMCOR. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the global humanitarian aid and development organization of the United Methodist Church. UMCOR is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operated under the auspices of the General Board of Global Ministries. One hundred percent of donations are directed to earmarked projects or relief efforts. Administrative expenses are funded by an annual offering collected by United Methodist churches on UMCOR Sunday.