MOTHER OF MNONTANA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KRISTEN JURAS

MOTHER OF COUNTRY SINGER WYLIE GUSTAFSON WYLIE AND THE WILD WEST SHOW

Patricia Jane Galt Gustafson (1927 - 2012)

Obituary

Patricia Jane Galt Gustafson came into this world in Judith Basin County, Mont. where her parents and siblings lived on the edge of the prairie in Geyser. She was born on Aug. 28, 1927 the day the world was blessed with her majestic arrival. She began school in Geyser, later moving to Great Falls with her parents and siblings when she was six years old. Patsy lived a long and illustrious life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and community builder. She was an avid and accomplished artist, golfer, skier, horsewoman, and bridge player. Her life was devoted to her family and extended family of friends and neighbors, and to her husband and his veterinary and ranching businesses.

Patsy passed away at home in the arms of her family on Oct. 26, 2012, having lived life fully for 85 years. Never did a day pass where she did not think of and pray for her family, attending to their needs, instilling them with joy, and supporting their every endeavor; encouraging their every dream.

Patsy married the Rapelje cowboy Raymond Walter "Rib" Gustafson in Great Falls on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1953. She moved to Conrad, Mont. after their skiing honeymoon in Alta, Utah and lived the Montana rancher/veterinary family life. Every Thanksgiving Rib and Pat celebrated their anniversary with large gatherings of family. Thanksgivings will be different from now on, without Patsy's cooking, laughter, and love.

Pat is survived by her husband of six decades, Rib. In her finals months, her children and husband attended to her needs as she had always lovingly attended to theirs, escorting her out of this world and into another even more majestic world, a world she prepared for with her priests and fellow parishioners at St. Michael's Parish, where she was a mainstay of community faith and benevolence. Her children and grandchildren all live in Montana. They are: her youngest son, Wylie and his wife, Amber; Barr and his wife, Colleen, grandchildren, Greta and Owen; Erik and his wife, Loyanne, grandchildren, Ben, Erika, and Sinda; Kristen and her husband, John Juras, grandchildren, Mark, Luke, and Evan; and her oldest son, Sidney, grandchildren, Connor and Nina.

Her oldest sister, Fay Taylor, of Shelby, survives her as well. Patsy was preceded in death by her brother, William Wylie Galt, posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after being killed in action in WWII; her sisters, Gwendolyn Rispaud and Sister Mary Eleanor (Edna Ann), and her brother, Senator Jack Galt; and her parents, Errol and Florence Galt of Great Falls, and several special nieces and nephews. Patsy was their youngest and prettiest child.

Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3, at 11 a.m. in Conrad, with a service at St Michael Catholic Church to celebrate the delight she brought to earth.

Family request memorials given to Pondera Medical Center Bridge Fund or Conrad Library Foundation. Arrangements are being handled by Pondera Funeral Home.

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Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle on Oct. 30, 2012