Richard "Rich" Matthew Norton
April 17, 1928 — September 22, 2017
Richard "Rich" Matthew Norton
Richard "Rich" Matthew Norton, 89, passed away September 22 at Mercy Hospital, Sacramento, with family and friends at his side. Born in Woodland on April 17, 1928, to Warren D. Norton and Marian H. Norton, Rich was the youngest of four children. He was predeceased by his parents, siblings Warren, Gertrude and Eleanor, and his beloved son Richard M. Norton, Jr. He is survived by wife Beverly A. Norton; daughter Susanne N. La Faver (Lyle) of Alameda; son Douglas W. Norton (Fran) of Monte Rio; daughter-in-law Tina Burton of Tahoma; grandson Timothy N. Coffey (Michelle) of Alameda; and great-grandchildren Sean and Madeline Coffey of Alameda. Rich graduated from Woodland High School and ran track at UC Davis as a proud Cal Aggie. With a degree in agriculture, he and first wife Jacqueline moved to Salinas to begin his career in agriculture sales. He sold vegetable seed to Salinas Valley farmers and made many friends in California's "Lettuce Capitol of the World." The three Norton children were born in Salinas. He and Jacqueline divorced after 21 years of marriage in 1968. In 1970, he married Beverly Anne Van Benthuysen at Carmel Presbyterian Church. They moved to Sacramento where Rich continued his career in agriculture consultation with corn growers and Beverly was principal of Tahoe Elementary School. They enjoyed travels to Hawaii, Belize and Costa Rica. Most time was spent at the Norton family cabin in Monte Rio on the Russian River. There, surrounded by towering redwood trees, they drank morning coffee on deck, peeled apples for apple sauce in front of the fire, and sunbathed on Monte Rio beach. They liked side trips to Occidental, Duncan Mills, Jenner, and Bodega Bay. "Just relax and listen to the trees" was Rich's advice to all who visited the cabin. He was a lover of trees, having planted at least 200 in his lifetime. He planted oak trees at Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Corral de Tierra, Salinas where he was a founding member. He also planted eucalyptus trees for shade in his Natomas neighborhood. Each fall, Rich picked small pumpkins and loaded them in his trailer for delivery to children at Earl Warren Elementary School. He delighted in their hand-written thank-you notes addressed to "Grandpa Norton." Other interests were fishing, hunting and skiing. He was a member of Tamarack Ski Club. He also supported U.S. Olympics, followed track and field, and attended the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with Beverly. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 14 at 2 p.m. at Fremont Presbyterian Church, http://www.fremontpres.org/ , 5770 Carlson Drive, Sacramento, CA. 95819.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bread for the World, http://www.bread.org/ 425 3rd Street, SW, Washington, D.C., 20024.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 14 at 2 p.m. at Fremont Presbyterian Church, http://www.fremontpres.org/ , 5770 Carlson Drive, Sacramento, CA. 95819.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bread for the World, http://www.bread.org/ 425 3rd Street, SW, Washington, D.C., 20024.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard "Rich" Matthew Norton, please visit our flower store.
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