Barbara Orem, 70

Barbara J. Orem, 70, of La Canada, California, and Bigfork, joined Jesus and her Heavenly Father on April 13, 2024. She will be missed by her family and friends.

She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 21, 1954, to Everett Gene Orem (Gene) and Anna Charlene Abbott Orem (Charlene), both formerly of Texas and New Mexico. She was the third of four children. Gene was working at the Atomic Test Site in Indian Springs. Shortly thereafter the family relocated to Columbia Falls while Gene worked construction of the Aluminum Plant in Columbia Falls. After a short residency in Portland, Oregon, the family returned to Columbia Falls, and Gene and Charlene purchased and operated a farm/ranch south of Columbia Falls. Gene also continued to work at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant.

Barbara attended Columbia Falls Elementary, Junior High and High School. She graduated in June of 1972. After graduation, she moved to Spokane, Washington, for one year to attend a certified medical assistant program. After returning to Columbia Falls, she worked at the predecessor to Glacier Medical Clinic in Whitefish for two years. She attended the University of Montana from 1975 to 1980 and graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. She volunteered as a peer counselor at the University Mental Health Center and worked at the USFS Fire Lab to pay her educational and living expenses, supplemented with student loans and grants.  

Barbara moved to Orange County, California, after graduation and worked for a year at CBS Publications, while taking classes at Cal State Fullerton in finance and accounting in the evenings. She then worked in the finance department for several international advertising agencies, including DDB Needham, Bozell & Jacobs, and Foote Cone & Belding in their Orange County, Sacramento, or Los Angeles offices. She was employed by Eisaman Johns and Laws/Lois EJL in Los Angeles as VP of finance from 1990-1998 and VP of finance for Direct Partners in Santa Monica, California, from 1998-1999. 

In 1998 Barbara formed Netpay Plus+, Inc., providing administrative outsourcing services including PEO services, human resourcing outsourcing, and payroll services in California until December 2015. Barbara built the company from the ground up and was a successful and respected businessperson. 

After retiring and closing down Netpay Plus+, Inc., Barbara purchased a residence and lived part-time in Bigfork, with her much-beloved animals including three cats, Nathan, Baily, and Max; and a mini poodle, Winnie.

Barbara traveled extensively in the United States in connection with her career and enjoyed international travel with her sister Belinda, including traveling extensively in Europe, Mexico, and Canada. In 2000 Barbara and Belinda traveled with their mom Charlene to Spain and Africa. 

Barbara suffered many medical challenges during her adult life. She was diagnosed with lupus and arthritis in her late 20s but refused to let her painful condition limit her activities.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She continued to work and operate her business while undergoing treatment.

Barbara fought a recurrence of her cancer in 2020 at the onset of Covid and was in remission. Unfortunately, her cancer metastasized in 2022 and she returned to California for treatments at USC Norris Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Despite receiving aggressive treatments, she passed away in ICU from respiratory failure on April 13, 2024.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Gene Orem; and her brother-in-law, Richard Beach; as well as her grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. 

Barbara is survived by her mother, Charlene Orem (96) of Columbia Falls; two sisters, Kyle J. Beach, Sammamish, Washington, and Belinda K. Orem, La Canada, California; one brother, Dale A. Orem (Kristy), Columbia Falls; nieces and nephews, Shauna Beach Lane (Justin), Sammamish, Washington; Scott Beach, (Misty and family), Billings; Sarah O’Rourke (Ryan), Kalispell; Alyson Dorr (Casey), Beau Orem (Amy), and Morgan Hargin (Zack), all of Columbia Falls; as well as several grand nieces and nephews, Elaina Dorr, Evie Dorr, Henry Orem, Madison Orem, Adeline O’Rourke, Regan Hargin, all of Columbia Falls, and Hannah Lane Schaffer (Will) of Del Rio, Texas; as well as numerous maternal and paternal cousins located throughout the United States, including Samuel Arzey Orem and his family, formerly of Columbia Falls.

A celebration of life service will be held July 19 at 4 p.m. at Valley Life Church, 1750 Talbot Rd., Columbia Falls, MT 59912. To send online condolences please visit Barbara's tribute page at www.columbiamortuary.com.