Obituary - Loretta Patrick

MALTA — Loretta Patrick went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning, Sept. 23, 2014, after a three-year battle with cancer.  

Rosary was at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, at Kirkwood Funeral Home. Mass was 10 a,.m., Friday, Sept. 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Cory Sticha officiating. Interment will be in Malta Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Loretta was born in Havre, Montana, on May 12, 1939, to Floyd and Katherine (Fisher) Whaley. She grew up on the family farm north of Havre and attended the Spring Coulee School. She moved into Havre and lived with her grandparents, Joseph and Theresa Fisher to attend St. Jude’s Havre Central High School.  After graduating in 1957, she met her sweetheart, Gayle “Buster” Everett Patrick, while attending a country dance at the Cottonwood Hall north of Havre. They were married the following summer on June 14, 1958. Most of the next 56 years were spent on the Patrick family farm in Wagner where they raised their three daughters.

Loretta enjoyed bowling, couples pinochle, attending gospel jamborees, dancing at the VFW jam sessions, playing cards and Farkle with her snowbird friends in Arizona, traveling in the RV with Buster, as well as world travel. Her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were the joy of her life. She was a dedicated room mother at the elementary school and a huge Malta sports fan, especially when her grandkids were playing.  Loretta was a member of the Friendly Neighbors Club, St. Mary’s Alter Society, Malta Women’s Club, TOPS, Milk River Campers, and the Malta Red Hatters.

Loretta is survived by her husband, Buster; daughters, Monica (Bruce) Arnold of Helena, Montana, Gail (Fred) Mavencamp of Malta, Montana, and Michelle (Don) Turner of Fernley, Nevada; grandchildren, Russell (Laura) Arnold, Heather (Tracy) Henry, Samantha (Steven) Johannesen, Justin (Chelsea) Wiese, Jessica Wiese, Krystle, Jesse and Sean Turner;  Six great-grandchildren, Lucy Arnold, Orion, Abigail and Myracle Henry, Allexis, Shane, and Shelton Johannesen, and she was anticipating the arrival of two more in the spring; brother; Glen (Janice) Whaley of Havre, Montana; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and all her farm kitties. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Katherine (Fisher) Whaley; her in-laws, Ralph and Ruth Patrick; and an infant son, John David Patrick. 

The family of Loretta Patrick would like to give special thanks to Dr. Berdeau and his wonderful staff at the Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls for the exceptional care Mom received over the past few years.  We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the staff of the Malta Hospital and Hi-Line Retirement Center for the care that she received in her final days.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Gift of Life Housing Center, 1101 26th Street South, Great Falls, MT 59406.