Vicky A. Koch, 65

Vicky A. Koch passed away on Oct. 12, 2010, after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Oct. 28, 1944, to Pierre Peres and Dawn Gallagher (Peres) Callison in Fort Benton. Vicky graduated from Fort Benton High School in 1962 and Kinman Business University in 1964. Thirty seven years of Vicky s career was spent at the Montana Department of Transportation where she was known for her philosophy of: She thought she could, so she did. During the last six years of her employment at MDT, she was the bureau chief of the Civil Rights Bureau, and served a brief stint as acting human resources administrator. As the bureau chief, she supervised programs designed to assure women, disabled workers and minorities were free from discrimination. Vicky received several State and National Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awards which included: Outstanding Federal Trainer, FHWA Outstanding DBE Mentor, and two outstanding Governor s State Employee awards. Vicky enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, and walking her many beloved dogs in the great outdoors. When Vicky was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, her can-do philosophy stayed with her, and she spent many hours dedicated to helping others who were also struggling with cancer. Survivors include her husband, Eugene Koch, whom she married in February 1981; her two stepdaughters, Pamela Christensen and Eric of Seattle, and Michele Blair and Scott of Talent, Ore.; three grandsons, Michael, Jamie and Alex; her mother, Dawn Callison; brothers, Rusty Peres and Teresa of Great Falls, Kelly Peres and Vicki of Juneau, Alaska, and Wayne Callison of Great Falls; along with several nieces and nephews and her special private nurse, Minnie Pearl. She was preceded in death by her father, Pierre Peres; and stepfather, Tom Callison. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 800 N. Hoback, Helena, with a reception to follow at the church; and also at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Fort Benton First Christian Church, 1201 Main Street, Fort Benton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Peter s Cancer Treatment Center, c/o St. Peter s Hospital Foundation, 2475 E. Broadway Street Helena, MT 59601; Hospice of St. Peter s 2475 Broadway Street, Helena, MT 59601; or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245. Condolences may be given to the family by visiting www.aswfuneralhome.com.