Barbara Tremper

Barbara (Dockery) Tremper, 84, of Polson, died on Friday, June 7, 2013, of Alzheimer’s disease at Footsteps Memory Care at The Springs in Missoula.

Born Nov. 30, 1928, to Raymond E. and Bohnda Akins Dockery in Lewistown, she attended Fergus County High School, and was active in drama and music.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Montana in 1950, and pursued a number of degrees and careers over the next 50 years, all while raising six children. Her graduate degrees and professional accreditations include CPA, MBA and J.D.

She pursued careers in secondary education and accounting before becoming an accounting instructor at MSU from 1976 to 1980 and then U of M from 1980 to 1983. In 1986, at the age of 58, she graduated from the U of M School of Law and began a law career that included private practice as well as judicial clerkships.

She was preceded in death by siblings: Raymond E. Dockery, Jr., Margy Lou O’Donnell, and Mary Ann Pickrell; a brother, Halbert, died in infancy.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill, and their children and their families: Laura Wagner and her husband, Roger, of Nashua, with grandchildren Jeannette Waldron and her husband, Mike, with great-grandchildren Julie, Liam and Amy Waldron; Rachel Mark and her husband, Scott, Barbara Wagner and Ben Wagner; Jane East and her husband, Mike; Bruce Tremper (Susi Hauser); Hal Tremper and his wife, Karen, with grandchildren Holly and Chantelle Smith; Rachel Pedry and her husband, Andrew, with great-grandchildren Aria and Rowan; and Sheldon Smith and his wife, Erin, with great-grandchildren Cody, Caleb, Layney and Sienna; John Tremper with grandchildren Teigen, Stacia and Zoe; Glenn Tremper (Peggy O’Leary) with grandchildren Patrick and Brian. She also leaves many special friends in Polson and Missoula, including the wonderful community of residents and staff at Footsteps Memory Care at The Springs in Missoula.

Condolences may be made online at http://www.groganfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Barbara’s name to the University of Montana Foundation, School of Business Administration -- Accounting and Finance Faculty Scholarship, P. O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159.