Dee DeMars Perrine

Dolores Maxine DeMars was born September 18, 1927 in Denton, Montana the oldest of five kids of Elsie (Mengler) DeMars and Albert DeMars. As a child her family moved to Arizona for a short time. She played the saxophone in high school and enjoyed music; graduating from Denton High School in 1945. In 1945 she married Marine Staff Sargent Michael Perrine in Geraldine, Montana and moved to California and left her beloved Central Montana. She worked for the Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command in Santa Ana, California to help with the war effort during World War II as a clerk-typist. When her tour of duty was completed and her husband finished his tour of duty they moved back to Coffee Creek, Montana to be close to family. There, they bought a small farm and started their family. They adopted David Perrine in 1951 and three years later adopted Susan Perrine. Then they moved to Denton, Montana and opened Mikes Repair Shop business. Five years later their youngest son Gregory Perrine was born. Together Dee and Mike raised and fostered many children. One foster child, Audrey as an adult asked if she could change her last name to Perrine. Of course the whole family was thrilled they always considered her a daughter/sister so she became Audrey Perrine legally.

Dee then operated a State Liquor Store out of one side of Mikes Repair building. She was always working and doing something. She was the runner-up in the Mrs. Montana Pageant. When her husband Mike passed away in 1970, Dee dove head first into politics and found she had a knack for it. In 1973 she became Denton's first woman Mayor and served until 1977. She was also Director of the League of Cities and Towns and worked at Redman Lumber Co. in Denton. If that wasn't enough she went to college to become a licensed Swedish Massage Therapist from The City College of Swedish Massage Kansas City, Missouri.

She moved to Lewistown, Montana to manage the State Liquor Store there and the State Liquor Division noticed her and sent her all over the State to train the employees on how to run the new computerized cash registers. She also took a liking to real estate and owned and ran the Pine Crest Apartments. She sold the apartments and bought the Empire Cafe in Lewistown and the Grass Range Cafe in Grass Range; then the Lewistown Airport Cafe and the Choke Cherry Lane with a friend. She flipped many, many houses and when she was finished with them, they looked like they were designed by a professional interior designer. Dee and a friend also owned a house cleaning service for a time. She worked at Rogers Jewelry in Lewistown. Dee ran her brother Gene DeMars' campaign for his election for Representative for Montana District 29, and he won. She also was elected to the Lewistown City Council Ward II in 1995. She belonged to many service groups including The Moose, American Legion Auxiliary (Past President), Fergus County Democratic Committee Woman, volunteer at the Hospital Pink Ladies, and the Lewistown food pantry.

Family always came first and she was a fashonista and the grand-kids loved the "Cool Grandma." Dee didn't slow down even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, then lymphoma and then breast cancer again. She also had Polio as a child. It was hard to keep her down and she was referred to lovingly as "one tough old bird." It was only when Dementia hit her hard and she forgot all the good things, and who she was as a person, the best of her. The memories had faded away because of the disease. Dee passed away August 16, 2025 in Belgrade, Montana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael Perrine; daughters, Susan Perrine Neils and Audrey Perrine; two brothers and their wives, Tommy (Jacqueline Faye) DeMars and Gene (Jackie) DeMars; sister, Andrea (Andy) Needham.

She is survived by her sons and their wives, David (Barbara) Perrine of Powell, Wyoming and Gregory "Greg" (Kathy) Perrine of Bozeman, Montana; sister, Dude "Dorothy" (Lyle) Mikeson of Stanford, Montana; brother-in-law, Mike Needham of Palm City, Florida; five granddaughters: Kimberly Perrine, Toni Perrine, Kelly Lund, Kara Haskell, and Kalyn Pink; seven great-grandkids: Amber Child, Haley Denney, Brandi Child, Hannah Goodwin, Michael Maddox, James Schaefer, Alivia Haskell; eight great-great-grandkids: Jackson, Gavyn , Weston, Odesza Child, Hazel Mathews, Crue, Brixxton and Riot Goodwin, and many nieces and nephews.

Thanking everyone for their kindness to Dee and her family; hospice, doctors and nurses, caregivers. And for the visits from friends, and family members for all their support, the cards and words of encouragement sent during her illness.

We will miss you Mom. Heaven has you now, RIP. With love, your family.

Graveside services will be held at Mount Calvary Cemetery on Tuesday, August 26th, 10:00 am; per her wishes.

Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Dee's family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com