Finberg, Thramer named 'super fans'

Columbia Falls has two new “super fans.” Laurie Thramer and Norma Finberg were named Montana High School Association super fans last week.

Thramer has been a scorekeeper for school events for more than 20 years. She is currently a study hall teacher and supervises the Columbia Falls High School yearbook. She said she started scorekeeping and working the clock at events in order to keep from having to do something else — like crowd control or ticket sales.

“I like to stay behind the scenes and not be noticed,” she said.

Scorekeeping fit the bill, for sure. Clockwork — not so much. She admits the first few football games where she worked the clock, she didn’t really know what she was doing.

Now she’s an old pro, although she admits she forgets the stats almost as soon as she writes them down. The most gratifying part of the job, she said, has been watching the girls basketball team improve over the years.

Norma Finberg has been going to games in Columbia Falls for 50-plus years. She said she started with her oldest son Chris playing baseball in Little League and hasn’t stopped since. Her sons Craig and Cary were two of the best male basketball players to ever hit the hard court in Columbia Falls, and her daughter Cathy was one of the best girls ever.

Finberg watched the trio all through their college years as well. Now Cathy and Cary coach and her granddaughter Ciera plays varsity.

Finberg said she hopes to watch Ciera and her younger sister Cydney play together next year. Cydney is an eighth-grader at Columbia Falls.

One of the best games Finberg ever saw was when Cary hit a shot from halfcourt to win a game for Montana Western when he was in college.

Norma said she doesn’t miss many games. She said she had surgery a few years ago, which laid her up for a bit, so she missed a few games then.

“It’s fun to watch your kids grow up,” she said. “The time goes too fast.”