Patricia Erickson, 101
Our much-loved mom, Patricia Louise Shanahan Erickson, passed away on Aug. 23, 2023, with family at Brendan House in Kalispell at the age of 101. This very special lady lived a long, event-filled life, having accomplished so many things.
She was a real Montana native, born in Nov. of 1921 in Whitefish. Her father, William J. Shanahan was yard master for the Great Northern Railroad, and her mother was Freda Bailey Shanahan. Freda was clerk of court for Flathead Valley and volunteered tirelessly for the women’s right to vote and many local charitable projects; began Whitefish Credit Union; was instrumental in starting Flathead Valley College, and building the first independent senior residences in Whitefish, Mountain View Manor.
She was a Girl Scout leader, volunteered and substitute taught at Evergreen Junior High, worked at the Evergreen Food Bank, helped at the Senior Center in Kalispell, and participated in several other charities and fundraisers such as the yearly Heart Drive, Cancer Drive, and many more.
In her very young years she raced speed boats, swam, and played in Whitefish Lake, and spent many summers enjoying her uncle’s home on Swan Lake. She hiked the Flathead Valley, hiked all over Glacier National Park, participated in many local events and was a talented piano player. The winters were spent skating, sledding, and climbing up that huge mountain in Whitefish and skiing down. They came to know that mountain as Big Mountain, now renamed Whitefish Mountain.
In her later years, after retirement, she hiked the many trails in Glacier National Park with a group of like-minded friends and traveled with them to explore many areas around Montana. She knew so many people, their families, and a great deal of Montana history. Her wonderful remembrances of the early Flathead Valley people and life are truly amazing.
She attended Whitefish schools, graduating high school in 1939. Her parents stressed education and Patricia excelled. She went on to Kinman Business College in Spokane, Washington, later being hired in accounting at Flathead Commercial in Kalispell, which later became Buttrey’s Department Store.
In 1965, she began work for Kalispell Feed and Grain as their bookkeeper. When this closed in 1985 she was hired by Flathead County. One of the most interesting assignments was to catalog all the people of the Demersville Cemetery. Each person had a story and amazing history that was finally put into print.
In May 1946, she married Clayton Erickson, also living in Whitefish, who graduated from medical school in San Francisco, California, becoming Doctor Erickson, a much-loved podiatrist in the Flathead.
To this marriage came five wonderful children still working successfully, living in different locations in the U.S. The children are Carla (Stoney) Moss, no children; Pamela (Cody) Houston, one child; Susan (Earl) Twist, Susan’s two children; John Erickson, three children; and Mary (Dave) Rennich, two children. Patricia has eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Her one comment always got us laughing when she said, “I think I did a pretty good job of raising all of you. At least none of you are in prison.”
Her father and mother were always active in charitable causes so she took the hint and gave a lot of her time working with several organizations in Flathead County despite having five children. She was a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority, Kalispell Unit, and a charter member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Evergreen, Montana.
She was an amazing seamstress, too, sewing for all the kids, decorating at home, and making Christmas items. We girls always had new, matching Easter outfits and beautiful school clothes. It was amazing what she could do. She and Clayton were active in the schools and Calvary Lutheran Church in Evergreen and Clayton helped start the hot lunch program at West Evergreen School.
She survived a myriad of children’s animal collections including horses, rabbits, dogs, an occasional kitty, wild birds, frogs, a white rat, a small alligator, turtles, snakes, and even a skunk. She always said she missed the horses the most.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Erickson; and grandson, Jacob Rennich.
Patricia has requested no services but will be attended to by Buffalo Hills Funeral Home in Kalispell. The family would like to thank all the staff at Brendan House.
We will always remember her as “Patty Lou” who was a talented Irish girl and an amazing mom to all of us no matter what house you came from. The neighborhood has lost a very valuable person. Thanks, Mom.