Margaret R Bovee

Margaret Lydia Rose Dieter Bovee,beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed awayMonday, August 20, 2012, after a long, courageous battle withAlzheimer’s. Margaret was born September 21, 1923 in George, IA toErwin and Lillian Dieter.  
Margaret earned a teaching certificatefrom Morningside College in Sioux City, IA and taught first grade inMarathon, IA for two years.
During WWII, a young airman fromWyoming was based on the Morningside Campus where Margaret waswaiting tables in the student cafeteria. It was there that Bob Boveefirst noticed his future bride and made every effort to make sure shedidn’t get away.  His persistence paid off, and they were marriedin Clovis, NM on March 12, 1945.
Son Ken was born in Powell in 1947before Bob took his father-in-law’s offer up to farm his land inGeorge, IA. While in Iowa two more children joined the family.Barbara came in 1951 and Bev followed closely behind in 1952. Thefamily relocated to Powell in 1956 where Bob began his custom farmingbusiness and Margaret opened her private kindergarten. She operatedit for seventeen years. She essentially put herself out of businessby promoting in kindergarten public schools. She was a firm believer inearly childhood education and wanted every child to be afforded theopportunity to attend kindergarten.
Margaret was a proud member of theUnion Presbyterian Church where she directed children’s choirs andlater took on the newly acquired bells to begin a bell choir. Thiswas a musical odyssey that she pursued for the next thirty-one years.
Margaret was driven to serve and hadthe dedication to Powell that lead her to membership in the League ofWomen Voters for many years. One of the proudest accomplishmentswhile active in the League was to see that the Clarks Fork River beprotected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  She was alsoinvolved in Powell’s Fine Arts Club and was a dedicated member ofthe Powell Hospital Board. During her tenure on the Board, sheoversaw the recruiting of new physicians to the area, who were badlyneeded during that time. She also was part of the planning andexecution of the current health care facility, and has been arecipient of the care she so wanted to provide for the citizens ofPowell and the Big Horn Basin. She was completely surprised with twounexpected honors awarded her by two local service organizations:Mother of the Year in 1973 and Citizen of the Year in 1983.
Margaret was an accomplished musician,particularly on the piano and the marimba. As a college student, shecompeted at the national level with her marimba quintet and wasawarded first place for its performance. She continued to entertainthe residents and nursing staff at the Powell Nursing Home with hermany renditions of “Amazing Grace,” both vocally and on thepiano.
Survivors include her husband ofsixty-seven years, Bob, son Ken (Sheryl) of Fort Collins, CO; Barb(Tucker) Fulton of Powell; and Bev (Craig) Leeper of Las Vegas, NV.
Seven grandchildren also survive:Kirsten (Dr.Eric) Dodson of West Chester, OH; Robin (Dr.Sam) Hoffmannof Sheridan, WY; Katie Fulton of Billings, MT; Dr. Erin (Ty) Pedersenof Cody, WY; Kelly Fulton of Casper, WY; Ryan Leeper of Las Vegas,NV; Airman First Class Ken (Jennie) Leeper of Oklahoma City, OK.
Seven great-grandchildren also blessedMargaret’s life: Blake and Olivia Dodson; Megan, Annie, Erin, andLarissa Hoffmann and Laurie Murray.
Margaret’s love of music, children,animals, and Powell are the legacies she leaves for her children,grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed byher family and especially by her ever-steadfast and devoted husbandof sixty-seven years, Bob.
Rest now, Mom. You are finally free.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Union Presbyterian Church