Patricia Ruth Poston Mild, 74

Patricia Ruth Poston Mild passed peacefully on Oct. 13, 2022, at her home in Twin Bridges, with family at her side.

Patty was born on June 26, 1948, to Roger and Ruth Poston in Kalispell, joining older brother Ray. She attended school in Evergreen and Kalispell, graduating from Flathead High School in 1966. She then earned a degree in elementary education from Western Montana College in Dillon. Patty taught grade school in Kalispell and later at the rural school Valley View in Polson and Reichle in Glen. Later, she worked in real estate for many years while living in the Dillon area.

When she was 13, she got her first horse, Stormy, and thus began a lifelong love of horses, which she passed on to all her children and grandchildren. Patty raised Quarter Horses and Paints. She showed and ran several horses on the racetrack and belonged to local horse groups, including the Montana Paint Horse Club. Patty passed on her love of horses and animals to her children and many 4-H members as she volunteered as a 4-H leader for many years. She helped put on many horse shows, including a couple of State 4-H shows and was known for putting treats in the mailbox for the kids at the end of the trail class. She always made things fun.

During her childhood, her dad often worked construction away from home, so Patty, her mom, and her brother had many adventures camping, fishing and hiking while visiting him in the summer. Some of her other favorite memories were at her parents’ cabin on Echo Lake and her aunt and uncle’s cabin on Flathead Lake, swimming, boating and waterskiing. Her love of camping, looking for rocks, and fishing with her family continued her whole life.

In October of 1971, she married Gary Mild in Kalispell and established Mild Fence Company. They soon bought a ranch north of Whitefish where their children, Sarah, Lydia and Luke, were born. Many days were spent working hard, riding horses, packing a picnic, picking huckleberries, fishing and swimming at Stillwater and Dickey Lake, and visiting friends.

They later moved to ranches in Proctor, Dillon, Lima, and finally, property in Twin Bridges. During their marriage, they raised their children and partnered in their fence companies, including Mild Fence and Southwest Fence. They enjoyed travels around the state, New Zealand, Mexico and Germany and visiting family around the U.S.

Patty's greatest joy was her children and grandchildren; she loved family.

Her other joy was the Christmas holidays. She decorated the home so beautifully each year, baked family recipe cookies, and insisted the family was all together each year carrying on those traditions. She was the best gift giver and loved to give presents. She worked hard, was one of the strongest people we know, and will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Roger Poston.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Mil, of Twin Bridges; aunts, Carlene Peters and Marie Peters, of Kalispell; brother, Ray, and his wife Karen Poston, of Bigfork, and her niece and nephew Amanda and Jeff; children, Sarah Miller and her husband Dave and their children Leneva and Cooper of Polaris; Lydia McCracken and her husband Shawn of Powell, Wyoming; and Luke Mild and his wife Colette and their children Emma and Paxton of Powell; plus many cousins whom she grew up with and were so close to her.

A private family graveside service will be held at Taylor Cemetery in Alder. Donations can be made to Beaverhead County 4-H in memory of Patty.