Teresa Clementine' Clemmie' (Robben) Montoia
1927 - 2025
Teresa Clementine' Clemmie' (Robben) Montoia, 97, of Norton, passed away September 8, 2025, in Norton.
She was born December 18, 1927, in Norton, to Clemens and Katherine (Wieland) Robben.
Clemmie grew up in Norton and graduated from Norton Community High School in 1947. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for her father at Norton Manufacturing, as well as for Seymore Packing Company and Gamble Robinson Company.
She married Paul A. Montoia of Cuba, New Mexico, on May 1, 1950. Clemmie and Paul opened the A&W Drive-In in 1958. Over the years, Clemmie did the bookkeeping for all of their business endeavors, including Fairmont Milk Route, Phillips 66 Service Station, Westland Home Sales, Silvaire Club, PAM Backhoe and Trenching, and Paul's Catering. With her by his side, Paul and her family thrived. "Behind every great man is a great woman" is a quote that signifies Clemmie. She later worked for First Security Bank, now Solutions North Bank, in Norton for 20 years as a teller, bookkeeper, and cashier. Clemmie was a lifetime member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and St Francis Altar Society. She enjoyed playing cards with her bridge club, dancing, and social activities with friends. She always enjoyed reading books, and as her eyesight made reading difficult, she gravitated to audiobooks and games on her iPad, which never left her side. She also enjoyed watching Jeopardy every day with a snack of Cheetos and a wee glass of Scotch. During Jeopardy, she always claimed she could get more answers right if she only had a few extra seconds.
She is survived by her four children: Paul and wife Leila (Bingaman) Montoia of Farmington; N.M., Tom Montoia of Zurich, Jeanette and husband Gary Lacy of Norton, and Ted and wife Barbara (Engelken) Montoia of St. Louis, Mo.; nine grandchildren: Paul, Samuel, and Jayna Montoia; Tyson, Carissa, and Claudia Lacy; and Erin, Samantha and Dominic Montoia; 16 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul, in 2020 after 70 years of marriage; and her siblings: Katherine Felton, Mary Moore, Hubert Robben, Pauline Robben, Helen Liddle, and Anna Unrien.
A Wake Service and Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Norton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton Public Library for audio books and may be sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com