Elna Cheeney "The Hat Lady"

TORRINGTON, WYOMING...........Memorial services for ELNA MAE CHEENEY “THE HAT LADY”, 85 will be held at 11am Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with Glen Sparks officiating. Elna Mae died at her home October 18, 2009 and cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Valley Christian School, the Senior Friendship Center, or the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Elna Mae was born April 18, 1924 in Bottineau, North Dakota the daughter of Albert and Louise (Gajewski) Wruck. She attended school at Kramer, North Dakota where she graduated high school in 1942. She attended Minot, North Dakota Teacher’s College and taught school in 1942 and 1943 in Souris, North Dakota. She then went to Airline Procedure School in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Aeronautic School in Chicago, Illinois. She worked as an Airline Communicator in 1945 and 1946 in Milroy, Indiana. She married Alf Norstegaard. They lived in North and South Dakota before moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1972. Alf died in 1974. Elna Mae moved to Petaluma, California in 1982 and then to Greybull, Wyoming in 1988. She married Edward “Homer” Cheeney on April 17, 1991. He died in 2000. She moved to Torrington, Wyoming in 2001. Elna Mae loved to quilt, do crafts, bake, and dance. She collected hats, friends, and family. She was a member of the Quilt Guild, the Sun Bonnet Gals, and several Bible study groups. Elna Mae is survived by three daughters, Rhonda Anugraha Norstegaard of Saratoga, Wyoming, LeAnn Norstegaard of Gillette, Wyoming, and Candyce Thompson and her husband Michael of Torrington, Wyoming; one son, Mark Norstegaard and his wife Janeen of Sturgis, South Dakota; three sisters, Leone Gitschlag of Yelm, Washington, Beatrice Brandt of Minot, North Dakota, and Lovetta Myhre of Roundup, Montana; six grandchildren, Shado Norstegaard, Cedar Norstegaard Miller and his wife Jen, Lacey Adkins, Bridger Norstegaard, Markee Norstegaard, and Jordan Adkins; and three great grandchildren. In addition to two husbands she was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Duane Wruck; and three sisters, Lucille Hall, Ruth Amsbaugh, and Arlene Wruck.