Patricia Ruth Prestegaard, 89

Patricia Ruth Prestegaard, 89, of Kalispell, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Jan. 27, 2023, at her home in Boise, Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ed; grandson Chad Cislo; her parents and two brothers. The family plans to have a memorial service in Kalispell in the spring/summer at a date to be determined.

Patricia was born Dec. 22, 1933, to Leo and Christel Gordon in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest with two older brothers Norman and Neil (Bud) whom she adored. Pat graduated from Nutley High School and received her teaching degree from Montclair State Teacher’s College in the French language. She was then offered a teaching position in Kodiak, Alaska, where she taught over 300 native and naval base children each day. This was quite a feat for a young teacher since there was no curriculum or books to start from, but she prevailed and had them singing French carols by Christmas! She met Ed Prestegaard at a Kodiak church, and they were married Aug. 19, 1956, at her family home in New Jersey. Her grandfather, Dad Eric, was a missionary and an ambassador to Albania and at 89 years old flew from Claremont, California, to perform the ceremony. Before the wedding she and her friend Barbara traveled to Europe on an ocean liner to see France and toured many other countries during the summer. This was Pat’s first time crossing the Atlantic and was followed by 11 trips to Norway (son Thor was born there) to see the family. They also attended the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. She traveled to Dakar, Senegal, as a missionary for 4.5 months to teach French at a Bible school and went to Israel with the “Volunteers for Israel” group. She and Ed moved often during those first years while the kids were young and were never afraid of a new adventure, working hard, or starting something new! She raised her family in Alaska, Norway and mostly Montana, and then moved to Boise, Idaho, to be near daughter June and Ron in her last years.

She was a natural with music, playing piano on her Kimball upright grand and had a beautiful voice. In her 70s she learned bass guitar and played at her church. While in her 80s she took up pastel portraits, which her family will forever treasure. Her artistic and musical talents were passed on to many of her children and grandchildren. She became an excellent seamstress for herself and her three daughters. She enjoyed acting in several church plays in addition to authoring a few of her own. She also wrote numerous literary pieces about her experiences and family history. She once stood in front of the church congregation and recited two chapters of Isaiah word for word from memory, as she had an excellent mind. Remarkably, she could also speak five languages. She loved laughing and telling stories and always emphasized her love and prayers for her family, right up to the day of her passing. She was a strong Christian and loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart. We all know Heaven was rejoicing when she arrived home! She and Ed celebrated 58 years of marriage and were blessed with five children, 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared in her life is her family: June (Ron) Juhnke and their children, Chad (deceased); Jordan and Josh, Glen (Carrie) Prestegaard and their children Jacob (Marcela), Kaleb, Judah (Anna) and Kirsten; Thor (Tracy) Prestegaard and their children Eric and Amanda (Cole) Pelican; Sonja (Vernon) Merk and their children David (Brandy), Nick, Erin (Ted) Goodman, Maria and Ariel; and Christel (Carlen) Ritenour and their children Ashley (Joel) Pinson and Colten (Andrea) Ritenour; along with great-grandchildren Ezekiel and Wolfe Prestegaard, Everlee and Dawson Pelican, and Huntleigh Ritenour.