Patricia M. Enoch

Patricia Mae (Deering) Enoch, 93, of Bozeman passed away on January 11, 2017. Pat was born November 25, 1923 in Spokane, Washington. After graduating from high school in Clarkston, WA she married her high school sweetheart, Wendell Enoch, shortly before he deployed to fight in Germany in WWII. During the war Pat did what so many American women did of that era, supporting the troops first as an expeditor in Ft. Warren, WY, then in Cincinatti, OH, and later at Fairfield Air Force base in Spokane. (She never knew for certain what they were expediting, but later had her hunches, as it was top-secret material sent to Los Alamos, NM.)

One of her favorite memories during those years was when she and Wendell (who was on a 30 day furlough) were traveling on a Greyhound bus to California. Everyone was listening to music from the radio when an announcer suddenly interrupted and reported the war was over. The bus stopped and everyone, along with the driver, got off and hugged and danced with joy along side the highway.

After the war she and Wendell moved back to Clarkston where they raised their three children. She worked in welfare services before moving to La Verne, CA. Pat served as the principal’s secretary at Pomona High School for many years cherishing her opportunity to help and serve children from all backgrounds. Later upon retirement they moved to Cherry Valley, CA where Pat volunteered in various leadership roles in the homeowners’ association, played golf and joined a ladies dance group, specializing in hula and tap!

In their retirement years Pat and Wendell enjoyed the opportunity to travel, seeing Europe, the Middle East and their beloved Big Island of Hawaii. During all her years Pat was a dedicated Democrat, believing that government can and should play a role of helping all citizens have opportunities to succeed. She remembered with pride the leadership of President Roosevelt bringing the country out of the recession. She also recalled holding students at Pomona High School as they cried together after hearing about the death of President Kennedy.

Several years after Wendell passed away in 2004 she moved to Sacramento to be near her son Steven and his wife Kristin and later followed them in 2013 to Bozeman, MT, living first at the Bozeman Lodge and later at Highgate Senior Living. The family greatly appreciates the support of the staff from both of these facilities.

Pat is preceded in death by her parents Victor and Ruth Deering, her husband Wendell and recently by her brother Vic Deering, Jr., and her daughter Penny Gronau. Survivors include son Steven and daughter-in-law Kristin Enoch of Bozeman, son Christopher and daughter-in-law Susie Enoch of Indiana, PA, her brother Frank Deering of Richmond, WA and her seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Despite her many physical disabilities Pat remained courageous and full of grace to the very end. She will be dearly missed. Private services with family are pending. Memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Bozeman Health Hospice, care of Bozeman Health as the family deeply appreciates the loving care she received from the dedicated members of the hospice family who visited her regularly; tending to her physical and spiritual needs.