James Leroy Norbury

James Leroy Norbury passed away Saturday evening, November 16, 2024 at the Copper Ridge Health and Rehab Center in Butte. He was born in Hamilton, Montana on Saturday, June 10, 1939 to Roy and Edna (Stroud) Norbury. He married Darlene Miller on November 7, 1964. They had two children, Vaughn and Denise. Jim was an avid outdoor enthusiast. He raced motorcycle including hill climbs and enjoyed snowmobile riding. He was still riding snowmobiles at the age of 78. He spent many years riding with his family including several nieces and nephews. Jim was buried I an avalanche in the Highlands (Red Mountain specifically) on January 16, 1971. He miraculously survived being buried for 4 hours and 22 minutes. The Lord was looking out for him on that day. He was one of only a few in the world to survive an avalanche of that size. Jim loved hunting and all the stories at hunting camp each day. Later in life he still enjoyed going to hunting camp for the stories and to serve as the driver for his son-in-law and daughter or anyone who needed someone to drive so they could walk the timber patches. He worked for the Anaconda Company for over 22 years. When they shut down, he went to work for Lost River Mining out of Nome, Alaska for over 10 years then returned to Butte where he worked for Biggers Transportation until his retirement. He is preceded in death by his wife Darlene, father and mother, Rou and Edna Norbury, step-mother, Margaret, sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Orland Bratten, brothers, Virgil and William Norbury, sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Scopey) Norbury. Brother-in-law, Ted Parini, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy and Norman Miller Sr. and brother-in-law, Norman Miller Jr. Survivors include his son Vaughn, daughter and son-in-law, Denise and John Knutson, grandsons, Cody and Zach, granddaughter, Katrina, great-grandchildren, Keira, Jenna, Asher, Ethan, Carter, Canyon, Kinslie and Mazie, sister, Shirlee Parini, brother and sister-in-law, Merlina and Elle Norbury and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation for Jim will be Thursday evening from 4 until 7 o’clock at Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock in the funeral home and interment will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery.

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James Leroy Norbury

June 10, 1939 - November 16, 2024