Patricia Theresa Letendre

Patricia Theresa (Kimmitt) Letendre passed away on September 30, 2010. She was born in Great Falls, MT on January 6, 1931 to Floyd and Lydia (Rocky) Kimmitt. Her childhood was full of many wonderful adventures with her vividly recalling trips to Canada to see family relations; attending girl scout camp; countless adventures with her sister Beverly; fond memories her grade school friends and life in Great Falls. She attended St. Ann#8217;s grade school, graduated from St. Mary#8217;s High School in 1949 and received a Bachelors of Art from the University of Great Falls in 1953. Her memorable achievements included being the Great Falls city-wide winner of the Jefferson Essay in 1945, attending the first Girls State in 1948 with the distinct honor of being elected Co-Treasurer and Secretary of State and the Valedictorian of her high school graduating class in 1949. While working as the Assistant Manager of the United Services Organizations (USO), she met her husband, Roland R. Letendre and they married on April 16, 1955 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Great Falls, MT. After several years of living in California they returned to Montana and lived in Livingston for two years and moved to Bozeman where they have lived in the same house for the past 47 years. She had a youthful working career enjoying jobs in a print shop, a dude ranch and as a waitress at Old Faithful. She worked for the MT Department of Transportation from 1969 #8211; 1991 as the Office Manager and was highly respected statewide for her contributions and knowledge. After she and Roland both retired in 1991, she spent her retirement years enthusiastically pursuing her love of stamp collecting, working on genealogy, taking considerable joy being a grandmother to her two grandchildren Stephanie and Joshua, traveling to see her son Bob in Arizona, reading her favorite literature, growing roses and simply living life to the fullest. She was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and represented the local Democratic Party for several years. Pat is survived by her loving and caring husband Roland; her sons Bill (Kathy) of Bozeman and Bob (Shay) of Yuma, AZ and her beloved daughter, Diane of Belgrade; two grandchildren Stephanie (Bahaa) Gerges and Joshua Letendre of Bozeman, her sister and brother in law Beverly and John Livingston of Eureka MT; a dear niece Mary (Frank) Hinkle of Kalispell, MT and her family and nephew, Mark (Ann Marie) Livingston of Eureka MT and his family and her former daughter in law Michele Letendre of Bozeman, in addition to countless other relatives that have blessed her life over the years. Preceding Pat in death, and greeting her with open arms, are her mother and father, her brother Dennis and her son, James who passed away in 1985. The lives of those that she has left behind will be forever blessed with memories of a tremendous woman that shared herself with so many and did so with grace, confidence, commitment and with a rich heartiness that will be sorely missed. Although the sadness will prevail on those of us here, we are certain that the Angels are rejoicing with their new recruit! We love you mom! In honor of her request, memorials in Patricia#8217;s name can be made to the Help Center at 421 E. Peach St. Bozeman, MT 59715 A Rosary will take place at 5:30 PM, Tuesday with a vigil service to follow at 6:00 PM at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Mass will take place at 11 AM, Wednesday at the Bozeman Catholic Community Center. Cremation will follow funeral services and interment of the urn will be Thursday at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com