Mary Undine Tarbox, affectionately known to family as “Dolly," passed away peacefully at her beloved ranch home in Potlatch, Idaho, on March 24, 2026, at the age of 94.

Born on November 29, 1931, in White River, South Dakota, to Wilhelm Philemon and Minnie Marie (Pedersen) Bergman, Mary’s journey took her through the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

In 1936, her family moved to Troy, Idaho, where her father operated a restaurant and farmed. By 1944, they settled in Moscow, where Mary worked alongside her mother at the Moscow Hotel. It was there, she met the love of her life, Raymond Tarbox.

On December 29, 1948, the couple married and began their life together working for the railroad. After Mary graduated from high school in Moscow, Idaho, in 1949, she continued cooking for the railroad crews until 1952. Following a brief adventure seeking work in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a stay in Spokane, Mary and Ray established a logging business in Potlatch.

In the years that followed, Mary found her true calling on the ranch they purchased in 1959 after retiring from logging. She thrived in the rhythm of ranch life, raising cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. During their years as outfitters, Mary’s kitchen was the heart of the operation; she was a legendary cook for the campers and hunters who visited, turning strangers into lifelong friends through her hospitality and shared stories.

In 1980, Mary and Ray opened Potlatch Auto Sales. For years, Mary was the face of the business, greeting every customer with her gracious smile while meticulously managing the books. Even in her final retirement, she remained active on the ranch, watching her family raise FFA animals and finding immense joy in the simple beauty of rural life. She was a woman who lived with a grateful heart and an ever-present happiness.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Tarbox; her parents; her brothers, Billy and Kenneth Bergman; her sisters, Phyllis Bergman and Sandra Siron; and her foster sons, Lonnie and John Ackerman.

She is survived by her sisters, Mardell Williams and Linda Cunningham; her brother, Swen Bergman; foster daughters-in-law, Leila Millick Swanson and Darlene Ackerman; and dear family friend and ranch hand, Bill Sener. Her legacy lives on through her many cherished foster grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and a wide circle of friends who became family.

Celebration of Life: Family and friends will hold a celebration of life for Mary and burial at her ranch on April 10, 2026.

2026.Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, WA is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com