Patricia 'Trisha' Anne (Walisch) Toftum, 73

Patricia “Trisha” Anne Toftum (Walisch) of Columbia Falls passed away Feb. 27, 2017, at the age of 73 due to cancer.

She was the third of six children born to Louis George Walisch Sr. and Patricia Leona Dungan, born Jan. 21, 1944, at Coulee Dam, Washington.

In 1949 her family moved to Ephrata, Washington. In 1960 she moved to West Glacier with her parents. In 1961 she graduated from Columbia Falls High School. Aug. 9, 1964, she married Clifford Leroy Toftum in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. They had three children: Merry Kaye (Richard) Brigham of Minn-eapolis, Minnesota, Deborah Anne (Allen) Braman of Bemidji, Minnesota, and Michael Scott (Barbara) Toftum of Columbia Falls. She had seven grandchildren: Cory, Heather, Brittany, Ryan, Magen, Shanae and Michael “MJ” James. six great-grandchildren: Logan, Madison, Carson, Liam, Claire, Isaiah and had numerous nephews and nieces.

She worked many years as a dietary aide at the Beltrami County Nursing Home in Bemidji and at the Bemidji Area Hospital in Minnesota and then the Montana Veterans home in Columbia Falls until her retirement in 2010.

She loved her family and her dachshunds; her life was centered around them. She also enjoyed scary books and movies and crocheting. She will always be remembered for her generous giving heart.

She is survived by her children, her sisters: Mary (James) Link, Madeline (Virgil) Hall, Margaret (Dennis) Marshall and Betty (David) Craig.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford (Bud) Toftum, parents and brother Louis George Walisch Jr.

A memorial service for Patricia will be held at 11 a.m. March 18 at the Journey Church, 5091 U.S. 2, Columbia Falls.

We love you to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond, forever and ever.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.