Marie Louise Hamilton

Marie Hamilton, 70, of Dillon, Montana, passed away on October 23, 2026.

Marie was born on January 9, 1956, in Hardin, Montana, at the old Hardin (Big Horn County) Hospital. She was the second of four children born to Samuel Walker and Juanita Rae (Campbell) Walker-Riley, following her older brother Daniel, and preceding her younger brother Arthur (Art) and sister Laura.

Marie grew up surrounded by a loving extended family and a neighborhood of kind, caring people. Her mother, Juanita; her grandfather, Robert Lee Campbell; and her aunts, Barbara Brown and Patricia Kern, all played important roles in her upbringing.

Marie shared her life with her husband, David Hamilton, building a marriage rich in family, adventure, and lasting memories. David introduced her to camping, fishing, and skiing, and together they enjoyed horseback riding, construction projects, and the satisfaction of building a life with their own hands. Marie was as capable with horses as she was with a worm-drive saw and tape measure. Together, she and David built their home along the Jefferson River west of Three Forks, Montana, where they lived for 27 years. They also worked together to restore a log building on a homestead west of Butte.

The birth of their son, Mathew, brought Marie a new understanding of unconditional love. She was smitten from the moment she first saw him and remained forever grateful for a son whose character, generosity, and strength made her so proud. She also cherished Mathew's wife, Tana, admiring her kindness, strength, and devotion to family.

In 2017, Marie and David followed Mathew to Dillon, beginning a new chapter together. Through the many seasons of their marriage, Marie treasured the life they built, the lessons in love and commitment, and the blessings they found along the way.

On October 5, 2026, Marie welcomed her grandson, Miles Mathew Hamilton, into the world. His arrival brought her tremendous joy, and in the final weeks of her life, she treasured the precious opportunity to meet and hold him.

Marie graduated from Central Texas College in 1981 with an associate degree in nursing. She went on to devote more than four decades to her career as a registered nurse, working in hospitals throughout Montana. Her final position was as a care coordinator at Barrett Clinic in Dillon, where she worked before retiring in 2022. Nursing was an important part of her life's work and reflected her enduring commitment to caring for others.

Marie and her younger sister Laura shared a bond that only sisters can understand. They played together, fought as sisters do, and fiercely defended one another when life got tough. Through all the years and seasons of life, Laura remained the person who truly knew Marie and loved her no matter what.

That devotion to family extended to her nephews, Jacek and Adam Barelski. Though Marie lived in Montana and the boys grew up in New York, she and Laura made a remarkable commitment to keeping their families close. Yearly visits, vacations, and shared adventures bridged the distance and created relationships that endured into adulthood. Marie remained a cherished presence in their lives and delighted in becoming a great-aunt to Sofia, Theodore, and Weston Barelski, the children of her nephew Adam and his wife, Alexis. As her great-niece Sofia would often say, "Aunt Marie is the best!"

Marie's sense of humor, quick wit, and joyful spirit brought laughter to those around her. She had a wonderful way of finding humor in the unexpected and making the people she loved smile.

Faith was central to Marie's life. At age 35, she renewed her relationship with God and committed herself to living each day in a way that would glorify Him. She was active in the Methodist Church before moving to Dillon, where she found a welcoming church family at First Presbyterian Church. Her faith was a source of strength, purpose, and gratitude throughout her life.

Even after her cancer diagnosis, Marie was determined to keep living fully. She did not think of herself as battling cancer, but rather as living life with cancer. She embraced each day with gratitude for the people she loved and the life she had been given.

Marie was preceded in death by her mother, Juanita Walker-Riley, and her brothers, Daniel (Danny) and Arthur (Art) Walker.

Marie is survived by her husband, David Hamilton; her son, Mathew Hamilton, and daughter-in-law, Tana; her grandson, Miles Mathew Hamilton; her sister, Laura Rodolakis, and brother-in-law, Anthony; her niece, Rachael Maney, and nephews, Travis Walker, Jacek Barelski, and Adam Barelski (Alexis); her great-niece, Sofia Barelski, and great-nephews, Theodore and Weston Barelski; and members of her extended family.

Above all, Marie hoped to be remembered as someone whose life glorified God. Through her devotion to family, her care for others, her joyful spirit, and her enduring faith, she lived each day striving to fulfill that wish, leaving a legacy of love and gratitude.