Patrick Barrera, 89

Patrick Barrera, 89, “went to be with the Lord” on Sept. 14, 2016, at The Springs in Whitefish after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Patrick was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, on April 15, 1927. As an infant the family moved to Texas. At age 8 his father passed and the family moved to California.

Pat served in the Navy as well as the Reserves for seven years during World War II in the Pacific. In taking back the Philippines, Gen. Douglas McArthur made the sailors from Pat’s ship, the USS Okala, temporary soldiers to help take back the islands. Because of that service, the USS Okala was allowed to be at Tokyo when the Japanese signed the surrender.

After the war, he returned and married his high school sweetheart, Jo Scott. They were married over 68 wonderful years.

Pat owned several businesses during his working years. His love was for the Lord and working in the church. He served as youth group leader and deacon moderator in the Baptist church in California, and also worked with hospice for five years in California. After moving to Montana they joined the Foursquare Church, and he became an elder and started the food bank. He enjoyed working at church camp for several years, but his passion was feeding the hungry.

Pat was known to be a very loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a man who was always willing to give a helping hand. Whether moving, painting, building, doing yard work or any other need, he was always there to help.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Kay; son, Scott; niece, Jodie Gray; and sister, Clara Barrera.

He is survived by his wife, Jo; daughter, Rochelle and Paul Secret; niece, Georgia and John Romero; twin granddaughters, Dr. Jennifer and Dr. Aras Emdadi, and Dr. Jessica and Dr. Jason Duong; nieces, Diane and Gary Turner, Brianna and Ryan Romo, Kristin and Matthew Blaker, and great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at The Springs in Whitefish. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please give to Frontier Hospice, 406-755-4971.