Patty O'Rork Higgins, 65

Patty O’Rork Higgins, 65, passed from this world on Dec. 17, 2015, at 12:45 a.m. at her home in Columbia Falls, surrounded with love from her friends and sister.

Patty was born in Peoria, Illinois, on Sept. 17, 1950, to Dave and Bonnie O’Rork.

Patty is survived by her mother, Bonnie Steinberg; brothers, Mike, and Danny and Donna O’Rork; sister, Kathy Melonas and Gust; five nieces and nephews who adored her; nine great-nieces and -nephews; her dear friends of the Flathead Valley, and her lovely stepmother Mable O’Rork.

Patty was preceded in death by her father David O’Rork, nephew Colin Grider, husband Tom Higgins, stepfather Phil Steinberg, and her very dear friend Nancy Clark.

Patty graduated in 1968 from Santa Barbara High School. She married Tom Higgins on Nov. 12, 1979. They moved to Montana in 1990. She legally separated from Tom in 2001, but he always remained the love of her life.

Patty worked as a bartender or waitress in several locations in the Flathead Valley. She also worked at the Remington as the daytime bartender for nine years. Patty built herself a beautiful home and moved in the summer of 2006. She enjoyed this home so much and shared it with all her Montana friends. The girls in her group were her girls. She had so much love for each and every one of them. She loved them and Montana so much she wanted to come home to die. She had been caring for family members in South Lake Tahoe, California, for the past two years. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2013; she sold her home in March 2014.

Patty loved the country, camping, fishing, campfires and the parties. She loved playing dice and cards, lots of games, gambling, but what she loved most was the closeness of her friends during gaming time. She also loved to dance. She loved music.

Patty also had a great love for her family. She started our family reunions which have been going for 32 years. She was loved by all and she gave us all her love.

“We will miss you so much. Patty. We love you.”

A local celebration of Patty’s life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the VFW in Whitefish. Potluck is welcome.

Thank you hospice for helping her to cross over beautifully and peacefully.

“The trouble is, you think you have more time” — Buddha

Columbia Mortuary is caring for Patty’s family.