Patricia Gwenyth Knutson

Patricia Gwenyth Knutson of Ronan, Montana, known by her friends as Pat, passed away on January 11, 2019, at the age of 93 years. She was also known by some as Patty (especially by her late husband and siblings), Aunt Pat, Grandma, and Mom.

Patricia was born in Wolsey, S. Dakota on January 8, 1926, the daughter of Charles Lindley and Margaret Evans. In her earliest years, she lived in La Crosse, Wisconsin, attending Logan High School where she met the love of her life, Warren C. Knutson. They married and lived primarily in Michigan until Warren passed away in 1990. They were married just shy of 50 years.

Through the years, Patricia worked as a clerk in several retail settings, including J.L. Hudson Department Store in Detroit. Her longest employment was at Mitchell Greetings Company of Detroit, supervising the imprinting department. Patricia and Warren did return to La Crosse for several years in the early 70s embarking on a tavern business at Breezy Point, overlooking Lake Onalaska, then returning to Michigan. Before her eventual retirement, she worked at the jewelry counter for a Target store and volunteered in a local hospital’s gift shop.

Shortly after Patricia’s 80th birthday, she began a new chapter by moving to Montana to live near her daughter Diane and son-in-law Andrew. She enjoyed the snowcapped Mission Mountains and Flathead Lake. She made many precious new friends with neighbors, members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson, and fun-loving Sons of Norway.

Always keeping busy, Patricia enjoyed many hobbies. She was an avid reader her entire life, using Montana Talking Book Library in later years. Also, she crocheted, completed intricate counted cross stitch pieces and other embroidery. Crossword puzzles were another passion and she raised lovely African violets.

A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held on Thursday, January 17, at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, officiated by Pastor Mealnie Martin-Dent. After this, she will be flown to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and buried at Oak Grove Cemetery next to Warren.

Special thanks to the staffs at St. Joseph Assisted Living in Polson and St. Luke’s Extended Care in Ronan. They brought much comfort and caring during Patricia’s last years.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.