Walter B. Woodcock, 93

Walter B. Woodcock, 93, passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, at St. Joseph Hospital.

Walter was born in Miles City Sept. 21, 1919, son of William E. and Josephine Nord Woodcock.

Following his graduation from Custer County High School in Miles City in 1937, he became a partner in the Woodcock Brothers Cattle Ranch near Ismay, Mont. He served during World War II in the 9th Bomb Group, B-29s 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 Mar. 13, 1948, he entered government service as land appraiser with the Bureau of Reclamation based out of Billings. He was married Mar. 19,1949, to Mary Louise Hogan of Miles City and continued his job with the Bureau of Reclamation until 1952, when he moved 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; son, James G. Woodcock and Marybeth of Billings; granddaughter, Chloe Ann Moore and Scott of Bigfork; grandsons, Tanner E. Woodcock of Billings and Jeffry W. Cravath of Phoenix; and great-grandchildren, Ellie Anna Moore and Benjamin W. Moore of Bigfork.

 A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17 at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson. Burial will take place following the service at Lake View Cemetery with military honors.

Messages of condolence may be shared with the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.