Obituary

Noralene Patty Belcher, 88, most recently of Lake Forest, California, passed away October 19, 2020.

Gladyce (Noralene) Belcher was born to William Jesse Patty, and Gladys Lucille Henderson Patty, June 29, 1932, in Denver, Colorado. Noralene, who excelled at school, graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California when she was only 16. She later received a Certificate in Computer Science from Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California in 1983.

Noralene married David K. Belcher June 26, 1949, just two weeks after she graduated from high school, three days before her seventeenth birthday. They were married for 67 years. Noralene is survived by her three daughters: Denise Katzenberger, (husband George), Jackie Venturelli, and Becky Stuart (husband John), 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren who knew her best as “Mimi”.

Noralene lived in many places throughout her life including Denver and Alma in CO, King Hill, Idaho, Galveston, Texas, Hawthorne, Mt. Baldy, Garden Grove, Big Bear where she and David built a house and lived for 27 years, and Lake Forest, CA. She and David owned a broasted chicken restaurant in Placentia, CA called The Broasting Pit for many years before they retired to their home “Up the hill”.

Noralene was very involved with her children and grandchildren’s upbringing and served on the PTA as President, as well as being a Girl Scout troop leader. As an avid outdoorswoman, she passed on many outdoor skills including how to build a fire, pitch a tent, backpack, and cook in a Dutch oven. She was an excellent shot. She could name all of the birds, trees, and wildflowers (weeds as some would say).

Noralene was also an accomplished craftswoman and taught her daughters how to cook, crochet, embroider, and sew. Since she was left handed, it was very easy for her daughters to learn how to sew because  it was like looking in a mirror. Being left handed, she always said “Out of all the family, she’s the only one in her right mind”. Noralene always found it was important to keep your sense of humor (especially with a surname like Belcher).

Noralene was a gifted and thorough genealogist and was incredibly well organized. She and David traveled across Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma finding relatives and tracing the family lineage one tiny county clerk’s office at a time. She was even interviewed by the clerk in Alma, CO who covered her upbringing in a cabin high in the Rocky Mountains built by her father, a placer miner.

Of her many hobbies and past times, reading was by far her favorite. She loved reading of all sorts, but really loved mysteries, fantasy, and text books. If there was not a book nearby, one would find her reading the cereal or soup can labels. She had hundreds of books in her collection. A close second was easily her love for Nintendo. Mimi was mindful and patient, both of which she used to beat many difficult Nintendo games including Mario, Zelda, and Dr. Mario. She passed on her love of reading and games to her children and grandchildren.

Noralene was sure to instill her love, virtues, and wisdom to all who knew and loved her. She will be missed but lives on in traditions and memories.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” – Proverbs 31:26