Patricia ‘Patti’ Wickham Hellman

Patricia “Patti” Wickham Hellman passed away on May 31, 2022 of natural causes.

Patti was born in Missoula to George (Spud) and Violet (Rathbun) Wickham on Sept. 30,1936, joining her beloved sister, Phyllis. Patti was loved and adored by her family and had many happy stories about her childhood in the Bitterroot Valley.

Patti was proud to be a fourth-generation Montanan. Her paternal grandfather, George Wickham II, lived with the family for a number of years. He told her many stories about his Montana pioneer adventures. This created a love of history and her heritage that was with her the rest of her life. She continuously investigated her family ancestry.

After graduation from Stevensville High School, she attended teaching college at Western Montana (Dillon). During the summer break from college, she experienced fun and adventure working at the Swift Current Chalet in Many Glacier. It was an experience she never forgot.

Upon graduation from College she worked for the Bigfork School District teaching elementary school.

It was in Bigfork that she became acquainted with a young man. He was dating her next door neighbor, but he was obviously quite anxious to meet the pretty young teacher next door. He made his intent obvious by revving his engine very loudly in the middle of the night when he dropped the neighbor girl off. Soon Patti was dating the young man with the loud tailpipes.

It was a whirlwind romance and Patti married Don Hellman on April 18,1959.

Patti and Don began their family with daughter, Susan. Three years later they welcomed daughter, Jill.

Don began his career at the Kalispell Police department and Patti eventually began her career at the Flathead High School Library. She was always there for kids who needed an adult to talk to. She saw and encouraged the best in all young people, including her daughters and their friends.

In 1972 Patti and Don bought a cabin on Flathead Lake. This was their destination during the beautiful Montana summers.

As Patti and Don’s careers began to wind down, Don built their new home around parts of the original cabin on Flathead Lake with the eye of a master craftsman. Patti applied her artistic skills to make magical touches that charmed all who visited. Patti and Don loved having all their friends, their daughter’s friends, and finally their grandchildren’s friends visit. Everyone was made to feel that they were welcome and invited to “have a beer.”

They also began taking long winter breaks and going to visit Don’s Mom in Quartzsite, Arizona. They fell in love with the Quartzsite area and very much enjoyed spending their winters there.

Each fall as the Montana days would grow shorter and colder they would excitedly pack for their winter in Quartzsite. Patti truly loved the beauty of the desert, especially long walks with Don and their dogs (Chief 1 and later, Chief 2).

Every evening at 5 o’clock Patti put out food to feed the wild rabbits, quail and doves.

Patti was a lifelong voracious reader and spent many hours at both of her homes enjoying a variety of books, specifically true crime novels.

Patti was a devoted fan of football and was an especially enthusiastic fan for the Seattle Seahawks and Montana Grizzlies – Go Griz!

Any trip to town would take a great deal more time than anticipated because of the many conversations Patti would have with both strangers and acquaintances alike. She was very interested in learning about other people’s lives.

In later years, Patti took on care for Don, who had developed dementia. She learned about the disease and did all she could to ensure the best quality of life in his remaining years.

Susan and Jill and the grandchildren were truly blessed by the love that Patti showed them. She was never judgmental. She simply wanted to support her family in any way she could.

Patti had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed laughing with anyone and everyone. In her last years she enjoyed talking with all of her caregivers every day. A special thank you to the staff of Buffalo Hills Terrace and The Retreat for the wonderful care and kindness that Patti received.

Patti is survived by her daughter, Susan Matter (Jim) who reside in Italy and Lakeside, and her daughter, Jill Kaufman (Mark) who reside in Lakeside and Quartzsite, Arizona.

“Did I tell you, baby

You are the joy of my life.” — Chris Stapleton

Patti was truly the joy of all our lives.

There will be a memorial cruise on the Far West on July 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. to celebrate Patti and Don’s life. Please RSVP at flatheadlake15@gmail.com.