"I've had a remarkable life because I've been given the gift to feel all emotions." – Norma Jean Guthrie

Norma Jean "Dutch" Guthrie, 92, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, January 15th.

As the daughter of a coal miner, Dutch and her family frequently moved around the southwest Kansas territory. She gained an independent disposition being the first of her family to attend and graduate college. She graduated from the University of Kansas with the first bachelor of fine arts awarded in the USA for Jewelry Making and Silversmithing. While at the University of Kansas, she was selected to be the Freshman Representative in the 1946 Homecoming parade, was a Delta Epsilon Trophy Girl, a member of the Alpha Rho Gamma Jewelry and Silversmithing fraternity, and a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.  Following graduation, Dutch worked as a hostess for TWA until she started her family.  After settling into the Dartmouth community, she became an honorary member of the Dartmouth Class of '48.

She was the only child of Cecil and Annabelle Guthrie. She is survived by her son Jacy McLaughlin, daughter Jayne McLaughlin, daughters-in-law Sue and Nancy McLaughlin, and her grandchildren, Matthew and Hannah McLaughlin, and Colin Costello. Dutch was predeceased by her sons Scott and Mark McLaughlin.

Here are some of the amazing stories from her adventurous life:

• Dutch visited Machu Picchu in 1950, two years after the completion of the road up to the ruins, traveling on the switch-back narrow-gauge railway. Dutch and her companions narrowly escaped the train seconds before it derailed and plummeted down the mountain, as a result of the Cusco earthquake.
• Sitting at a bar at a ski resort in the 1940's, she was introduced to Gary Cooper who bought her a burger and a scotch and joined her for an afternoon of story swapping.
• Independent and headstrong, Dutch found herself riding an elevator with members of the Chicago Bulls, where she decided to tell them how much she hated basketball and advised them to seek another career.
• While vacationing in Aspen in 1948, Dutch skied Ajax mountain with Friedl Pfeifer.
• Dutch and her family had season tickets to the "Gashouse Gang," the St. Louis Cardinals who won the World Series in 1934.
• She saw Nat King Cole perform live, and after the show was asked to sing with him in East St. Louis. She had perfect pitch.
• As a young schoolgirl, Dutch rode her roping horse to school, tying him to the hitching post while school was in session. She also rode him bareback on the plains, with her close friend an Osage Indian girl.
• She swapped household cleaning tips with Lauren Bacall at the local IGA. Apparently Scrubbing Bubbles was all the rage.
• On a Dartmouth trip, she told Lord Guinness that she didn't like their famous beverage. He laughed, poured two whiskeys, and joined her for a drink.

Dutch loved to help others and to give back to the community. She served on the Alice Peck Day board and supported The Howe, Northern Stage, and Good Beginnings, among other organizations. She was instrumental in getting The Woodlands at Harvest Hill built.

Above all, Dutch taught her family how to love, laugh, and find joy in good times and bad. Her family fondly recalls she loved to entertain family and friends with stories over a cup of tea or while enjoying a cocktail, often culminating with her fabulous laugh. She will be greatly missed.

Arrangements are being made by Knight Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.knightfuneralhomes.com. Due to COVID-19, services will be postponed until Summer 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to The Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Ave, White River Junction, VT 05001 or Bayada Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1590, Norwich, VT 05055.

Her family would like to thank the Bayada Hospice staff of Norwich for the care, devotion, and love that they provided to Dutch and her family.