Patricia Mae Managhan passed away peacefully on Jan. 26, 2017, with family at her side. She was a resident of Hot Springs but had been at the Edgewood Vista Memory Care Center in Kalispell since December of 2014.
Patty was born on Sept. 21, 1921, to George “Pat” and Lila Mae Pasley in Missoula. She was an only child. Her mother died when she was 4 years old and she went to live with her grandmother, Mary Pasley. Upon her grandmother’s death, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Edith and Elmer Maddux. They lived in Missoula, Marion and Lonepine.
At Lonepine School she met Everett Managhan and after high school they were married. They had three daughters, Judy, Linda and Peggy.
When Everett was drafted into the Army during World War II, Patty saved his Army paychecks and made a down payment on a piece of property at the corner of Highway 28 and the road into Hot Springs. They opened a gas station there and started raising a small herd of cattle. Patty ran the gas station by herself on weekdays while Everett worked in Hot Springs for Holt Motor Sales. After many years when the cattle became their main source of revenue, they closed the station, Everett stopped working in town and they began ranching full time.
During those years they belonged to the Hot Springs Saddle Club where Patty was the secretary-treasurer for a few years. For many years they were brand inspectors for Sanders County which involved inspecting the brands of cattle and horses that were being taken out of the county. Patty also served as secretary-treasurer for the Murray Memorial Cemetery Board for several years. Patty and Everett bought into the Big Meadows Grazing Association in Pleasant Valley in the ‘60s and Patty served a term as president of that cattle grazing association in the late ‘70s.
Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Everett, when he was 57 years old. He remained the love of her life but she found comfort in the several dogs that she had over the years who were her constant companions, Geronimo, Willie, Timmy and Snoopy.
Even though Patty spent many years living alone, she remained very active and was in good physical health. She liked to work outside and took pride in the flowers in her yard. At the age of 89 she bought herself a new chainsaw so she could continue sawing firewood for her fireplace. She had a riding lawnmower and was still out mowing her lawn at the age of 92.
Patty traveled extensively, often with and/or to visit her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. During these trips she never shied away from adventure, whether it was taking an unplanned hike through jungle-like rainforest in Hawaii, visiting glaciers and flying to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, handling a huge boa snake on Hollywood Boulevard, or riding a dirt bike in Baja, Mexico. She took pride in the VIP treatment she received while attending air shows of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as a special guest of family friend, Larry Stellmon, while he was the commander/leader of the squadron.
Patty was known for her unique sense of humor, with her instinctively clever wisecracks and witty comebacks. She got great pleasure in giving her family, friends and even strangers a hard time. Even though she suffered from dementia at the end of her life, she still had that special quality to kid around and joke with everyone.
She was a warm, friendly and giving person. Whether it was relatives coming to stay with her for a week or friends just stopping by to chat, she was always happy to see them. She welcomed them with open arms and the promise of good food, good conversation and lots of laughs.
Patty lived in her warm, comfortable home for over 70 years. She loved that home, the community of Hot Springs and its surrounding area and the people who lived there. During her travels, she always talked about the good people back home and how fortunate she was to be living among them.
In addition to her husband Everett, Patty was preceded in death by her youngest daughter, Peggy, in 1962.
Patty is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Kenny Crone of Kalispell, and her daughter Linda Lockman of Marysville, Washington. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. In addition, she maintained close relationships with her cousin, Twyla Kabatchnick, her nieces and nephews and the children of close family friends. Patty was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend and she will be forever loved and missed by many.
A private family graveside service was held for Patty at Murray Memorial Cemetery in Lonepine where she was laid to rest beside Everett and Peggy in the family plot. Due to the inclement winter weather conditions, a memorial service and celebration of Patty’s life will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank the staffs of Edgewood Vista Memory Care Center and Frontier Hospice for their heartfelt care and kindness to Patty throughout her illness.
Memorial donations in Patty’s honor may be made to Friends of Hospice, 42 Bruyer Way, Kalispell, MT 59901; or to the charity of your choice.