Dolores Jean Atchison

DOLORES JEAN (POWELL) ATCHISON 1934—2025 Surrounded by her family and sustained by her unwavering Catholic faith, Dolores Jean (Powell) Atchison entered into God’s Eternal Kingdom on Friday, October 24, 2025. Dolores was born to Elmer and Jean (Douris) Powell on July 16, 1934 and raised on Butte’s Anaconda Road. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from Girl’s Central High School in 1952. Following graduation, she went to work for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Butte and for a short time, in Great Falls. Upon moving back to Butte, she met “Bud the Baker”, a kind gentleman that lived across the alley. After dating for a short time, “Bud the Baker” proposed to Dolores, and they married in a small ceremony in 1969. She became Dolores Atchison, and “Bud the Baker” became Uncle Bud. You could say that Dolores and Bud enjoyed bowling, but that would be an understatement. Her passion for bowling began in 1964 when she joined a league at the old Butte YMCA lanes. Dolores bowled the first 700 Series for a woman in Butte’s bowling history on February 15, 1985. She entered the Women’s State Bowling Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Butte Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame. A pillar of support for the Butte bowling community, Dolores devoted countless hours at local tournaments and enjoyed being secretary of her leagues, doing all calculations by hand, before computers were introduced. She and Bud traveled the United States bowling in many state and national tournaments around the country, but her favorite was teaming as a doubles partner with her niece, Geri, for the National Tournament in Reno in 1988. She was over the moon excited when her great-niece, Kyla, started bowling several years ago. Although Dolores didn’t have children of her own, she was like a second mother to her sister Arlene’s, children Geri and Dan, and a “best-aunt” to Geri’s daughter Kyla. Her nickname “Orsie” came from Geri not being able to spit out Dolores. Kyla would get excited when going to visit, and at a very young age coined the combination of Dolores and Orsie into Dolorsie. No matter the name, she was loved. Welcoming Dolores onto God’s Kingdom were her parents, Elmer and Jean Powell, brother-in-law Hugh Welsh, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dolores and Dr. William Fleming, Bud’s daughter Cheri (children George, Gina, Finley and Daniel). She is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Bud Atchison, who lovingly cared for her in her later years, her sister Arlene Welsh, niece Geri Grose (Dennis), nephew Dan Welsh (Francis), great nieces Kyla Grose, Rachel (Aaron) Hampton (Cameron, Hannah and Addison), and great-nephew Brad Welsh, Bud’s son Mike (Tenlee) Atchison (Dylan and Ashley), in-laws David and Elaine Atchison and Diane and Gerry Herrigon. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the caring team at Big Sky Senior Living, Trek Healthcare and Honey Bee Hospice for their compassion and support during Dolores’ final years. Special thanks to her niece and nephew, Geri and Dennis for their tireless love, understanding, and help with whatever was needed. Memorial services will be conducted Monday, November 24th at 11:00 AM in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home Deacon Bernie McCarthy officiating. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials in Dolores’ name are requested to the Butte Youth Bowling Association for scholarships.

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Dolores Jean Atchison

July 16, 1934 - October 24, 2025