Tamara "Tammi" Susanne Dresen

MISSOULA ~ Tamara Susanne (Johnson) Dresen “Tammi” was born March 27, 1974 in Eureka, California to Dave and Patricia Johnson. She passed away at the age of 52 on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11:51pm in Missoula, Montana of medical complications. In June of 1977, her parents decided to move with her and her sister Debbie to Helena, Montana and put down roots in a new place. During her time at school, Tammi excelled in academics and made many lifelong friends. She graduated from Helena High School in 1992 and continued at Montana State University to receive a Bachelor of Psychology in 1996. In 1994, she married John Dresen in Polson, Montana and from that marriage they had four children; Joseph, Ryan, Jacob, and Nicholas. Her children were the greatest joy of her life. Their union dissolved in 2016 but they were able to come together to give the love and support their children needed. For many years she was a stay at home mother for her boys and gracefully wore that title with every honor it deserves. For the last 15 and a half years she worked at Glacier Bank in a variety of roles starting as a teller in Ronan with Community Bank to her final job in the fraud department where she helped take care of people when they had been attacked by scammers.

Growing up, Tammi and Debbie had walkie-talkies, and recorded themselves from each other’s rooms, a news report on the weather and whatever else they felt needed to be “aired.” They also loved rollerskating on the cement driveway. Tammi’s love for family was paralleled by her love for the Lord. She was a prayer warrior and loved to be there for people to talk and walk through life's highs and lows. She was always checking in on friends and family, though she distinguished no difference between a friend and a family member, to see how she could pray or support them. One of her favorite pastimes was photography and with that came a love of traveling to amazing places. As the children grew up, they remembered being driven around Montana with the sole purpose to take stunning photos of lakes, waterfalls, sunsets, and anything that caught her eye along the way. Though at the time they acted like it was being held hostage, the memories of the amazing places they went to have come to be precious memories.

In recent years her travels went farther. She just got to fulfill one of her dreams of traveling abroad, going to Italy with her son Ryan. She loved going to the Oregon Coast with Jacob and looked forward to going again with all of her boys. She was planning a trip with her son Joseph to go to Israel and see the Holy Land. Between all of these great journeys were precious trips to go visit her children and be there for every achievement, be it a graduation, award, or any major life event. Though shy about it, she learned ukulele and loved to play at home alone or anytime the family got together. Sometimes it was a glorious sound, and other times it was what you would expect of a seventh grade trombone player attempting to play alongside mom’s ukulele. She often enjoyed a spontaneous trip with her daughter-in-law, Joseph’s wife, Amber, to Hobby Lobby or any random craft store they came across. After meeting her boyfriend, Wes, another passion of hers was to attend the annual Celtic Festival and local Brewfests around Missoula. Her life was full of joy, amazing trips, equally amazing friends, and family that made her so happy.

She was preceded in death by her youngest son Nicholas M. Dresen, her parents Dave R. and Patricia L. Johnson, grandparents James R. and Audrey N. Johnson, and Frank M. and Dorothy L. Wakeland. Survivors include her sons Joseph (Amber) Dresen, Ryan Dresen, Jacob Dresen, her sister Deb L. Wakeland, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service is being held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula, Montana at 1pm, Friday May 29, 2026. A private interment is to be held at a later date.

The family wants to profoundly thank the EMT’s and the Doctors and Nurses at St. Patrick's Hospital that responded to her final moments. Another deep thank you goes to Sunset Memorial Gardens for taking such good care of her after her passing and the tremendous help you were to the family in preparing the arrangements and services. To all friends and family that have supported Tammi over the years in every way, we are eternally grateful that she was loved well and deeply by all. We are together thankful for her generosity and love. May memories of her life and the lasting impact that she has had on all be a comfort and a blessing.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.