Raymond ‘Skip’ Henry Patrick

Raymond 'Skip' Henry Patrick

Raymond "Skip" Henry Patrick, 89, died peacefully on the morning of Jan. 7, 2011, at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre, Mont.

He was born on the Swift Place, just south of Goldstone, Mont. — ninth in a family of 16 children — to Charles Richard and Sadie Ina (Gale) Patrick, on June 18, 1921. He attended rural school in the Goldstone area, graduating from Rudyard High School in 1939.

He spent his entire life farming and ranching on the prairies of the Montana Hi-Line. He loved God, his family, the land and every season of birth as he spent hours delivering calves, lambs or litters of piglets. Birth and life were precious to him in all forms.

He married Helen Louise Filicetti on Nov. 17, 1945, in Havre, Mont. Of this union, four children were born. He was a wonderful father and was actively involved in each of their lives. Gardening was a passion. He could grow anything. His leisure time was spent playing pinochle, visiting and telling stories of the "good old days." In his youth, he spent many hours playing baseball with his brothers. He loved the game.

Raymond was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Havre. He actively participated in all areas of the church service from teaching Sunday school, to driving the bus to ushering on Sundays and serving on the church board.

As a member of the Havre Lions Club, he was honored with a life membership on June 17, 2004. He was so proud of his more than 40 years of perfect attendance.

He was a lifelong Republican, serving as Hill County commissioner from 1968 to 1980. He was appointed by Gov. Tom Judge to serve on the Montana State Water Rights Board because of his years of experience and knowledge working in soil and water conservation. He ran unsuccessfully for public service commissioner in 1982.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brothers, Charles, Ralph, Russell, Lloyd, Clarence, Cecil, Clifford, Wayne and Richard; sister, Gladys Smith; and granddaughter, Natalie Patrick.

He is survived by sisters, Ruth Meredith of Havre and Phyllis Gagnon of Chester; brothers Bernard (Joan) of Havre and Bullhead City, Ariz., and Donald (Ann) of Grafton, Iowa; daughters, Jeanne (Willie) Stecher of Billings, Lynda Patrick-Hayes of Havre, and Laurie (Randy) Koutnik of Helena; son, Thomas (Carolyn) of Havre; grandchildren, JoLynn (Jeff) Munro of Spokane, Wash., Colleen (Bill) Black of Billings, Tiffany (Joe) King of Smithtown, N.Y., Tara (Michael) Hamby of Mission Viejo, Calif., Joshua (Jody) Hayes of Scottsdale, Ariz., Kristin (Bob) Hammler of Billings, Karli (Rodney) Sturgill of Billings, Kevin (Michal) Koutnik of Helena and Brett Patrick of Havre; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and generations of beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Havre, at the First Lutheran Church at 1 p. m., with burial at Highland Cemetery immediately following the service. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be sent in his name to the Care and Comfort Home, 1204 Cleveland Ave., Havre, MT 59501 or Montana State University-Northern Development Foundation, P.O. Box 1691, Havre, MT 59501, where a memorial endowment is being established in his name for students in agriculture.

Raymond "Skip" Henry Patrick, 89, died peacefully on the morning of Jan. 7, 2011, at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre, Mont.

He was born on the Swift Place, just south of Goldstone, Mont. — ninth in a family of 16 children — to Charles Richard and Sadie Ina (Gale) Patrick, on June 18, 1921. He attended rural school in the Goldstone area, graduating from Rudyard High School in 1939.

He spent his entire life farming and ranching on the prairies of the Montana Hi-Line. He loved God, his family, the land and every season of birth as he spent hours delivering calves, lambs or litters of piglets. Birth and life were precious to him in all forms.

He married Helen Louise Filicetti on Nov. 17, 1945, in Havre, Mont. Of this union, four children were born. He was a wonderful father and was actively involved in each of their lives. Gardening was a passion. He could grow anything. His leisure time was spent playing pinochle, visiting and telling stories of the "good old days." In his youth, he spent many hours playing baseball with his brothers. He loved the game.

Raymond was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Havre. He actively participated in all areas of the church service from teaching Sunday school, to driving the bus to ushering on Sundays and serving on the church board.

As a member of the Havre Lions Club, he was honored with a life membership on June 17, 2004. He was so proud of his more than 40 years of perfect attendance.

He was a lifelong Republican, serving as Hill County commissioner from 1968 to 1980. He was appointed by Gov. Tom Judge to serve on the Montana State Water Rights Board because of his years of experience and knowledge working in soil and water conservation. He ran unsuccessfully for public service commissioner in 1982.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brothers, Charles, Ralph, Russell, Lloyd, Clarence, Cecil, Clifford, Wayne and Richard; sister, Gladys Smith; and granddaughter, Natalie Patrick.

He is survived by sisters, Ruth Meredith of Havre and Phyllis Gagnon of Chester; brothers Bernard (Joan) of Havre and Bullhead City, Ariz., and Donald (Ann) of Grafton, Iowa; daughters, Jeanne (Willie) Stecher of Billings, Lynda Patrick-Hayes of Havre, and Laurie (Randy) Koutnik of Helena; son, Thomas (Carolyn) of Havre; grandchildren, JoLynn (Jeff) Munro of Spokane, Wash., Colleen (Bill) Black of Billings, Tiffany (Joe) King of Smithtown, N.Y., Tara (Michael) Hamby of Mission Viejo, Calif., Joshua (Jody) Hayes of Scottsdale, Ariz., Kristin (Bob) Hammler of Billings, Karli (Rodney) Sturgill of Billings, Kevin (Michal) Koutnik of Helena and Brett Patrick of Havre; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and generations of beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Havre, at the First Lutheran Church at 1 p. m., with burial at Highland Cemetery immediately following the service. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be sent in his name to the Care and Comfort Home, 1204 Cleveland Ave., Havre, MT 59501 or Montana State University-Northern Development Foundation, P.O. Box 1691, Havre, MT 59501, where a memorial endowment is being established in his name for students in agriculture.