Victoria (Tori) Jane Ketchman Marion, 72, born July 25th, 1950, passed away in her home on June 21st, 2023. Tori was born in Detroit, MI to Rodger and Shirley Ketchman, and was raised in the greater Metro area with her brother Tracy. After graduating high school, she went to art school in Detroit and worked as a telephone switch board operator. In 1972, she gave birth to her only child, Christopher Rodger Blakley. In 1974, she moved to Big Sky, MT with her son and then-husband, Douglas Blakley. During her early years in Montana, she was an advertising agent and part owner of Old Faithful Times, bar tender, sheriff’s department dispatcher, and shuttle bus driver at Big Sky before becoming one of the biggest antique dealers in Montana. During the early years as an antique dealer, she was also an advertising agent for KTVH, the NBC affiliate in Helena, MT.
As proprietor of Tori Jane’s Treasures, she started out traveling around the state selling at antique shows when she lived in Phillipsburg, MT. Life eventually took her to Townsend, MT. in 1982, where she lived until 2006. While in Townsend, she had several store fronts around town before moving a single room school house from the Old Crow Creek Valley to her home property and turned it into an antique, antique shop. She produced several antique shows around the state, with the Mother’s Day and Cabin Fever shows at the Civic Center in Helena being the most popular. She had several smaller businesses during that time, Sweet Thing, a candy store, Tori’s Books, specializing in antique pricing books, and Balloon Baby. In 2005, she moved her shop to Last Chance Gulch’s shopping district in Helena, MT. She retired from full time store management in 2012 and closed down the Helena store, though she continued to sell at antique and gun shows. Her last show was the 40th anniversary of the Cabin Fever show in January 2023.
When her shop was next to American Federal Savings Bank, she hired a local handyman to refinish furniture. Vernon R Marion transitioned from someone who helped improve the quality of her shop’s stock to the love of her life and husband. The spent over 20 happy years together before Vern passed in 2006.
In 1997 she was appointed as judge to the City Court in Townsend. She served on the bench until 2005 and by far, her favorite duty as a judge was to proceed over 100 marriages to happy couples. After relocating her store to Last Chance Gulch, she sat on the bench in East Helena, Mt. for a few short years and finally a reserve judge for the City of Helena.
In 2011, she met her last love, Mel Blanchard. They lived together until July of last year when he passed away. They spent much of their free time bowling in leagues year-round.
She was survived by her son Christopher Blakley, PsyD, Chicago, IL; her brother Tracy Ketchman, Ann Arbor, MI; niece Yasmina Ketchman, Plano TX.; and nephews Latif Ketchman, Ann Arbor, MI; Said Ketchman, Milltown, NJ; and Hamid Ketchman, Norfolk, VA. A Funeral Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6th at Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 212 Broadway St. 59644, Townsend. A burial at Deep Creek Cemetery will follow the Funeral Service.
Victoria Marion, age 72 of Helena
July 25, 1950 – June 20, 2023
Meagan Carson says
My sweet Tori,
I will miss our salon talk, our afternoon Jimmy Johns lunches while sitting and chit chatting, and your stories you would tell me. I loved how you nicknamed me “La la.” I will miss you dearly my friend.
Laura McArdle says
Tori moved to Townsend a couple of years after we did and was a dear friend. Our children were the same age and we were involved in community affairs together. My jewelry box is overflowing with jewelry from her stores. I would trade antiques for earrings, and as sharp as she was, I’m sure she was on the winning side. In later years we annually worked together creating a donation for the LCHS winter auction. I always attended her winter events until we began heading south. I loved and admired Tori. So sorry about your mom, Chris.
Lucy Greer says
Tori was my best friend from the time we met at the age of 12 in Plymouth, MI. We hung out all through high school and I was her Maid of Honor at her marriage to Doug and she was mine at my wedding. Though distance, me in Colorado and her in Montana kept us physically apart, as well as raising out respective families, we stayed in touch throughout the years and had talked on a monthly basis these past 4 years. Each time we spoke it was as if we had never parted and it was like old times again. Tori you were always such a positive, happy person with the most beautiful smile. I was so lucky to have had you in my life. I will miss our talks and reminiscing but will forever hold you in my heart. Rest in peace my friend!
Audrey Schubring says
Tori and I moved to Townsend with our families about the same time in the early 80s. It was love at first sight. We worked together at a dental office in Townsend for many years. Tori then left the practice to pursue her passion for all things antique. An antique shop in Townsend which later moved to Helena . Her antique shows at the Civic Center were so fine!!
We had fun sharing a busy social life , the many parties and events were always a hoot. Tori could tell a story like none other, you would be laughing before her story was finished!
Chris your mom was very dear to me . Hugs to you.