Walter B. Woodcock

Walter B. Woodcock, age 93, passed away December 13, 2012. Walter was born in Miles City, MT September 21, 1919, son of William E. and Josephine Nord Woodcock. Following his graduation from Custer County High School in Miles City, 1937, he became a partner in the Woodcock Brothers Cattle Ranch near Ismay, Montana. He served during World War II in the 9th Bomb (Group; B-29's on Tinian Island) 313th Wing of the Army Air Force. About a year after his discharge from the Army he purchased his brother's half interest in the ranch. On the first of the year, 1947 he was employed as assistant secretary treasurer of the Miles City Production Credit Association. On 3-13-1948 he entered government service as land appraiser with the Bureau of Reclamation based out of Billings, Montana. He was married 3-19-1949 to Mary Louise Hogan of Miles City and continued his job with the Bureau of Reclamation until 1952 when he moved to with his family to Great Falls where he was employed as zone manager for Investors Diversified Services for a year and a half, until he was called back to Miles City to assist in the reorganization of the Miles City Production Association. In September of 1955 he moved with his family to Billings where he was employed as an appraiser with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. There he was promoted to Chief Appraiser for the Billings area until his promotion to Chief Appraiser and Land Use Planner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. He retained that position until his retirement from government service in 1982. Following retirement from the federal service he established Walter B. Woodcock MAI and Associates, a real estate appraisal consulting business in which he continued until 1992.

Since that time he has enjoyed his retirement at his home in Polson and his membership in the Polson Rotary Club.

During his career as a real estate appraiser he served as president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and was active in the affairs of the institute, locally, nationally and internationally. During his residence in Billings, he served as president of the Billings Arts Association and was instrumental in the founding of the Yellowstone Arts Museum in that city. He also served as president of the Billings Writers Group and president of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association during its centennial year.

Surviving are his best friend and companion Deola "Dee" Shryock; daughter, Lynne Avril of Phoenix, his son, James G. Woodcock (Marybeth) of Billings, his granddaughter, Chloe Ann Moore (Scott) of Big Fork, his grandson, Tanner E. Woodcock of Billings, his grandson, Jeffry W. Cravath of Phoenix, and his great grandchildren, Ellie Anna Moore and Benjamin W. Moore of Bigfork.

A service will be held Monday, December 17th at 2:00 pm at Grogan Funeral Home, Polson. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.

Read Walter Woodcock's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.