Barbara Dockery Tremper

Barbara Dockery Tremper - born November 30, 1928 in Lewistown, Montana of Raymond E. Dockery and Bohnda Akins Dockery. During her early childhood, she lived in the historic Lewistown Dockery home with her parents; grandmother, Louise Akins; her brother, Raymond E Dockery, Jr.; and her two sisters, Mary Ann Pickrell and Margy Lou O'Donnell. After graduating from Fergus County High School in Lewistown in 1946, she attended the University of Montana in Missoula, graduating in 1950 with a BA in English. Prior to her senior year at college, she married her ski buddy, William H. Tremper, on September 3, 1949.

Her early married years were blessed with six children, and when they were all in school, she resumed her academic interests. In 1970, she returned to the University to study accounting, passing the CPA exam in 1972, then worked for the accounting firm of Galusha, Higgins and Galusha from 1972 to 1974. She returned to the University to earn her MBA degree in 1976. Following her husband's avid interest in skiing, she wrote for ski magazines, co-edited the Skidaddler, and wrote a weekly ski column "Skicaster" for Montana newspapers.

In 1976, Barbara moved with her three youngest sons to Bozeman where they could attend high school and college while she taught accounting at Montana State University. She moved back to Missoula in 1980 to join the accounting faculty of the University of Montana. In 1983, Barbara attended the University of Montana School of Law, earning a JD degree and passing the bar at the age of 58. She was joined in law school by many of her former accounting students, along with her son, Glenn.

She practiced general law in Missoula for 5 years, after which she specialized in legal research for other attorneys as Montana Legal Research. She returned part-time to teaching legal research and other law courses at Missoula Vo-Tech (now the Missoula College, University of Montana ). She worked for a short time as a clerk for Judge Green until he retired.

In 1995, she and her husband, Bill, moved to their Flathead Lake home and later to Polson where they enjoyed sailing, golfing, and their Corgi dogs. Barbara continued to do some part time professional work and writing. She and her husband were members of Immaculate Conception Church and Rotary Club. They had many close friends and neighbors whose support they both appreciate. Her primary joy in life came from her six children who, with her encouragement and her husband's support, earned college and advanced degrees in their chosen professions.

Barbara was integral to the success of the Tremper family businesses: Trempers Inc, Trempers Distributing and Trempers Shopping Center, Inc. Her accounting and legal skills, and general business knowledge assisted Bill, Bob and Frank and the Tremper family in securing the financial footing of the businesses. Her foresight allowed the businesses to continue into the third and fourth generations.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children and their families: Laura Wagner (Roger), with grandchildren Jeannette Waldron (Mike) with great grandchildren Julie, Liam and Amy Waldron, Rachel Mark (Scott), Barbara Wagner and Ben Wagner; Jane East (Mike); Bruce Tremper (Susi Hauser); Hal Tremper (Karen) with grandchildren Holly and Chantelle Smith, Rachel Pedry (Andrew) with great grandchildren Aria and Rowan; and Sheldon Smith (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.

Other very dear family members include the Tremper and Dockery nieces and nephews, especially those involved in Trempers Shopping Center: Frank, Tim, Tom, Terri and Tammi Tremper, Debbie Williams, and Mary Anne Tremper Moseley. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Helen Dockery of Garland, TX.

She also leaves many special friends, including the wonderful community of residents and staff at Footsteps Memory Care at The Springs in Missoula. The family is most appreciative of the kind and competent service provided to Barbara and her family.

A vigil will be held on Thursday, June 13th at 7:00 PM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Missoula, MT. A memorial mass will be held Friday, June 14th at 2:00 PM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.

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.
Read Barbara Tremper's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.