Marjorie Patton

Marjorie Patton

Marjorie Marie "Midge" (Kelley) Patton, 96, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes. Funeral services will be 11 a. m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at First Baptist Church, with Pastor John Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorials in Midge's honor may be made to the First Baptist Church, 625 4th Ave., Havre, MT 59501 or to Northern Montana Care Center Chapel Piano Fund, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Midge was born Sept. 11, 1915, to Meldon Julius Kelley and Jennie Maude (Winn) Kelley in Ruthven, Iowa. She attended schools in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

On Jan. 26, 1938, she married Samuel Dellette Patton in Spirit Lake, Iowa. They lived in Iowa until 1950. In 1950 they moved to Laredo, Mont., where she was postmistress and grocery proprietor. They sold the store in 1954 and moved to Box Elder, Mont. They purchased another grocery store, and she ran that until 1960 when they moved to Havre.

After moving to Havre, she worked at the Ben Franklin store until it burned down and then at Northern Montana Hospital for 10 years. After leaving the hospital she was a senior companion to the blind.

Midge loved baking, cooking large family meals, embroidery, gardening, sewing, playing cards and especially the time she spent with her great-great-grandchildren. Midge spent her life helping others and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Midge was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sam in 1982; brothers, Jerry Kelley and Merl Kelley; and sisters, Daisy Dodge, Berniece Kelley, Mabel Kuhse and Mary Wheeler.

She is survived by daughter Melva (Bob) Gustafson of Chisago City, Minn. ; son, Sam (Evelyn) Patton of Great Falls Mont. ; sister, Bessie Boughey of Armour, S.D. ; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.