Christopher John Patera

Christopher John Patera passed away February 6, 2014 surrounded by loved ones. He fought a valiant battle with gastric cancer. However, he never gave up and did not leave his family easily. He wanted his children to know the importance of tenacity and fortitude.

He was born May 28th 1982 to Bruce and Jean Patera in Polson, Montana. Chris lived in Deer Lodge, Spokane, Bozeman, and Livingston before settling in Havre and wherever he went, made friends and left people with fond memories. Since his earliest years, Chris had a great heart and great compassion in his treatment of other people.

He married his best friend Kiera Peterson in Havre and together they shaped a relationship and family that was nurturing and caring. Chris and Kiera shared their love of sports, work, and family. Christopher was above all, devoted to his family and was very proud of his daughters Rhoda and Chelsea.

  Chris was a man of wide and varied interests. He loved to play the guitar and sing and could do great impressions of Elvis. No one could have more fun dancing than Chris and he had some mean floor moves. Chris loved to host all-night poker sessions with his buddies and had late night garage jam sessions with many of his friends.

From the time he was a little boy; Chris loved working with metals, tools, and wood and later became a first-rate contractor. Chris was also a first-rate Chef and it added to his love of cooking and entertaining; he delighted in preparing special meals for friends and family. He also loved working on older vehicles and had various projects going all the time. It was a great joy for him to help his friends "pimp their ride."

Chris learned to

play hockey after moving to Havre and it was one of his great joys. Any time the New Orleans Saints played, you could find Chris and his family glued to the TV cheering them on. Chris loved to coach both soccer and hockey and spent many days attending his daughter Rhoda's games as either a coach or a spectator.

More than anything, Chris knew how to be a good friend and always helped others whenever and however he could. His friends and family will miss the preciousness of all that he was.

  Chris is survived by his wife Kiera, daughters Rhoda and Chelsea, parents Bruce and Jean Patera, sister Maggie (Bob) Koons, numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and many friends. Chris was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John and Betty Patera, maternal grandparents Edgar and Dolly Woods, and uncles Dean Woods and Daryl Patera, brother-in-law Derek Peterson, and longtime friends Bridger Holt and Russell Turcotte.

The community is invited to a celebration of Chris's life Thursday February 13, 2014 at 5:30 P.M. in the HRDC Fireside Room located at 2229 5th Avenue. There will be no graveside services at this time. Condolences can be sent to the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

(At the family's request, this obituary wasn't edited.)