Sowell v. Teachers' Retirement System

This is an appeal from a judgment entered pursuant to findings of fact and conclusions of law filed by the Eighteenth Judicial District Court in and for Gallatin County. Plaintiff, the surviving widow of Larry Sowell, brought this action to declare her rights with respect to the retirement and death benefit account of Larry Sowell, deceased. The trial court entered judgment for Carolyn Wheelon and Janet Sowell appeals.

Larry Sowell (Larry), a music professor at Montana State University, died of cancer on October 7, 1982. Larry was first married to Carolyn Wheelon (Carolyn), on December 18,…