Marian Louise Polette

Marian Louise Polette was born in Stevensville, Montana Dec. 23, 1929 to Walter and Mabel Peery where she lived and attended school until her family moved to Solvang, CA. in 1939. One year later they moved back to Stevensville in the Bitterroot Valley. Marian attended Stevensville High School where she thoroughly enjoyed Home Economics Class where she learned her life-long skills in sewing and cooking. During her sophomore year, she met the love of her life, Gene Polette, who lived in Arlee, MT. They were married in Missoula on March 5, 1949 and enjoyed 53 wonderful years of marriage before Gene passed away in October, 2002. The two lived on Kern Street in Missoula before they moved up Miller Creek in 1956. They loved working together and totally remodeled their house where they raised their four children. Nurturing animals was a passion of theirs. During the time on their little ranch, they raised a multitude of animals including: cows, chickens, horses, pigs, and goats. They also raised and competed with dogs, llamas, alpacas, pigeons, and rabbits of which one earned a National Championship!



Besides their children, the cabin at Seeley Lake was their greatest accomplishment, designing and building it from scratch with the help of their daughter Linda and son-in-law John. It was appropriately named Polette’s Paradise and is a family sanctuary that will be appreciated for many, many generations to come.



Marian was the most loving, caring, and giving person who ever walked the face of the Earth! The only time she ever used the word hate was when her son

Ted jokingly drove close to the edge of a steep embankment while going to the Morrell Mountain lookout. She said, “I hate this!” It became a family joke! 

Family was EVERYTHING to Marian!



The angels that greeted her in heaven were her husband Gene; sons Charlie (at birth), and Bruce (MaryJo); daughter Linda Traver (John); parents Walter and Mabel Peery; sisters Elsie Martinson (Ed), and sister Faye who passed just three days before Marian. Survivors include: sons Tom (Julie), and Ted (Ronna), and sister Fern Crist (Bill-deceased), 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.



The world will never be the same without her beautiful smile, warm hugs, and encouraging words! We love you Mom!