By HDN Staff
HAVRE/GILDFORD Gladys "Pat" Opal Crites, 93, a retired farm wife, died Saturday, March 23, 2002, of natural causes at a Havre care center.
Funeral service is 2 p.m. Thursday at the Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Mel Gemmill officiating. Burial to follow funeral service at the Highland Cemetery. Fellowship luncheon to follow burial at the church.
Memorials in Pat's honor may be made to a person's choice.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
Pat was born Jan. 17, 1909, to Floyd H. and Minnie C. (Aker) Light at Pendleton, Ore. Her family moved to Polson when Pat was 6 weeks old. In 1912, the family moved to south of Gildford, where they farmed. Pat attended "Pride of the Prairie" Grade School and graduated from Hingham High School.
On Oct. 1, 1928, she married Hollis Crites. After the marriage, the couple moved to the Gildford area. To this marriage, four daughters were born. They are: Gladys, Lyndal, Karen, and Arla. Hollis died in 1942.
On Sept. 29, 1945, she married William "Bill" Crites. The couple lived and farmed north of Gildford. To this union, one son was born: Russell Crites. Bill died in 1989.
Her hobbies included doing fancywork, reading, studying the bible and history. Her favorite place to be was at home, spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Hollis Crites in 1942, her husband, William "Bill" Crites in 1989, one infant daughter, one set of twin sons, two sisters, one brother, one grandson.
Survivors include her daughters, Gladys Thackeray of Havre, Lyndal Mauldin of Brooksville, Fla., Karen Dolphay of Belt, Arla Beene of El Centro, Calif.; son, Russell Crites of Gildford; 23 grandchildren; 34 great-grand children; five great-great-grandchildren.
