RITA LEEDS obituary

Rita Patricia "Patty" Leeds, 82, died of natural causes Saturday, Oct. 09, 2004, at the Aspen Gardens Care Facility in Helena.

A vigil service will be today at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. Both services will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Havre with the Rev. Robert

Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Havre, with a luncheon immediately afterward at the St. Jude Parish Center.

Patty was born on Nov. 15, 1921, in Havre to John and Mary (Schaffer) Coolen. Patty was the youngest of five daughters. She attended school at St. Jude and Havre High School. After graduating from high school, she worked as a receptionist for Doug Wilke, DDS, until she was married.

On Jan. 19, 1944, Patty married her childhood sweetheart, Philip "Tip" Leeds in Tehachapi, Calif. Shortly after they were married, Patty returned to Havre when Tip was sent overseas during World War II. Patty spent her married life fulfilling the roles of wife, mother and grandmother.

She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

Patty was preceded in death by her husband and parents; sisters, Genevieve MacKenzie, Lorna Heille, Berniece Sticka and Virginia Coolen; sons, Philip Jr. and Jeff; son-in-law, Ron Fuhrman; and daughter-in-law, Colleen (Olson) Leeds.

Survivors include her sons, John (Lois Waid) of Helena, Mike (special friend Cynamon Burdick), Jim (Kathy Sommer-Wood), Barney (Marge Handl) and Bruce (Linda Gould), all of Havre; daughters, Mary Pat (Steve) Bebee of Havre and Peggy Fuhrman of Deer Lodge; 15 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Education Trust Fund or to a person's choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.