03/28/2026
Tracey Lee Carpentier, 56, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana, with her children by her side.
A wake will begin on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Foster Funeral Home in St. Ignatius, Montana.
A rosary will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM, also at Foster Funeral Home.
Funeral services will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Foster Funeral Home. Cremation will follow.
Tracey will be laid to rest at a later date beside her father, Jim Carpentier, at St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
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Tracey Lee Carpentier, 56, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on October 24, 1969, in Polson, Montana.
Tracey was raised in Ronan, Montana, alongside her siblings and cousins, whom she loved deeply. She often spoke fondly of her childhood, especially her favorite memories of attending the fair, taking daily walks down Main Street with her father, Jim Carpentier, and swimming at the golf course docks; where she and her cousins once spotted what they called the “Flathead Lake Monster,” a giant sturgeon gliding next to the dock.
Tracey was fiercely protective of her family and would always stand up for those she loved.
She attended school in Ronan before transferring to Two Eagle River School, where she played basketball for the Lady Eagles. One of her proudest achievements was scoring eleven three-point shots in a single game!
Tracey worked in various office positions for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, including roles as a switchboard operator and as a receptionist within the Natural Resources Department, Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Tribal Credit. She also pursued cosmetology in Missoula, Montana, inspired by her love for hair and makeup. She dreamed of opening her own beauty shop, which she planned to call “Rez Gurlz Curlz.”
Above all, Tracey was a mother who found great joy in creating special moments for her children. She loved planning birthday parties and making holidays magical; often staying up all night decorating with streamers and balloons to surprise them. Her children cherish memories of hiking to Mission Falls and North Crow Falls, traveling to Spokane to visit family and jamming to rap music on the road. Tracey had a generous heart and often opened her doors to others, treating her children’s friends and nieces and nephews as her own.
Tracey also spent five years living in Spokane, Seattle, and Renton, Washington. During that time, she became involved in a church community, where she volunteered and formed lasting friendships with people who became like a second family to her.
Like her father and siblings, Tracey was an accomplished pool player. Her home was filled with championship trophies, and her closet held many tournament jackets that reflected her skill and love for the game. Her children came to know her close pool friends as beloved “aunties.”
In October 2010, Tracey experienced a life-altering car accident that resulted in a frontal lobe brain injury. Despite the challenges that followed, she continued to live with resilience and independence, often traveling between Billings and Spokane on her own. Along the way, she met many people and left a lasting impression with her unique spirit and personality.
Tracey had a creative soul. She loved writing poetry and capturing moments through photography. Her photos were treasures she held close, preserving the memories of those she loved. She always kept a journal to jot down her thoughts, memories, poems, and signature quotes; “Love, peace, and frybread grease.”
Tracey was preceded in death by her father, James “Jim” Carpentier; her mother, Cecille “Ceil” Antoine; her brother, Jesse James “Jake” Carpentier; her sister, Charlene Kee; her brother, Archie Carpentier; her sisters, Marie Carpentier and Marlene “Muck” Lafrombois; and her daughter, Kayla Parker.
She is lovingly survived by her children, Shayna Parker, James “JC” Carpentier, and Kyra Carpentier; her grandsons, Kenai Carpentier, Kyan Carpentier, and Marley Swaney; her brothers, Wesley “Wes” Carpentier (Kim), Bert Carpentier (Freda), and Donald “Putt” Carpentier; her sister, Joanne “Dode” Asencio; her Godson, David Fisher; her aunty Francine "Franny" Antoine, and her many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
