Tracie Zetler-Cornwell, 63

On Wednesday, December 30, Tracie Zetler-Cornwell passed away peacefully at the age of 63.

Tracie was born on August 8, 1957 in Ennis, MT to Dorothea and Alan Zetler. She spent the first part of her childhood in Bozeman, MT where she grew up with her loving parents and siblings Peggy, Mark, and Kimberly. In 1969, the family moved to Dillon, where Tracie graduated from high school before moving on to receive a bachelor's degree in construction technology and drafting from MSU-Northern in 1981. Two weeks after graduating, she was hired on with Montana Power Company in Butte where she worked for 32 years. Around the same time, she started making a home for herself in Cardwell, where she raised her two daughters, Sarah and Allison, and eventually married her best friend Scott.

Tracie was able to retire early at the age of 55 and spent the remainder of her life hiking, gardening, and adventuring with her "boyfriend". They would snowbird together at their home in Arizona every winter, giving her the opportunity to garden all year long.

Tracie was smart, strong-willed and proud of her work. She would light up when talking about her career and co-workers. She found great joy in raising her daughters, giving them her strength and sense of adventure. Later in life, she loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed exploring and hanging out with her girlfriends as well. Many weekends you would find her on a bike ride, ski trip, or going to a concert with the girls. Tracie also spent many years of her life renovating a beautiful 100 year-old farm house in Cardwell, finally finishing it with Scott after retirement. She called it her "happy place". Working in the garden and the flower beds there was where she found the most peace.

Tracie was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothea. She is survived by her father Alan Zetler, husband Scott Cornwell, her daughters Sarah Karlsgodt (Andrew) and Allison Perin (Luke), her siblings Peggy Zetler, Mark Zetler and Kimberly Frank, her two grandchildren Kolten & Dawson and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A small memorial service for close family will be held in the spring. If you would like to commemorate Tracie's life, please make a donation in her name to the American Diabetes Association, an organization that she fundraised for throughout her life. Or, sign up for their Tour de Cure bike ride, an event that she loved participating in with her friends and daughters. More information at diabetes.org.