Viola Trettin, better known as “Babe” by the Boulder community, was born and raised in the Boulder Valley. She lived in Boulder her entire life until retiring in 1987.
Babe and Ken Trettin bought the Boulder Cafe from Claude and Bess Mitchell and operated it until 1964. Their six children were raised in the cafe, waiting tables, doing dishes, stocking. They never had a kitchen in their home until they sold the cafe.
Babe told stories of telling the Garrett Trucking drivers where the key to the café was, so they could stop in and make coffee and have a piece of pie as they were passing through town. They would leave their money on the counter as they left.
After selling the café, Babe went to work at the Diamond “S” Ranch Hotel and then at the Boulder River School and Hospital as secretary for Steve Chivaro. She then became Clerk of the District Court until retiring.
It was important to Babe to decorate graves in the Boulder Valley, the Boulder cemetery, and those of loved ones in Helena. She loved to go down the valley and reminisce about where everyone lived. (The home she was born in was just demolished a few years ago.) Babe was full of stories of going to dances in Basin with horse and wagon. She had a great memory and sense of humor, and could tell you stories up to the day she passed. Babe loved Boulder, and Boulder loved Babe.
Babe and Ken enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Arizona. She also enjoyed going to the casinos and playing the machines. Babe was fortunate enough to see all her children retire and enjoy winters in the warm weather. While spending time with her children in Arizona, she passed away one week prior to her 95th birthday.
