Patricia Ann Landon was born on February 21, 1937, to Charles Landon and Edith Mae Sines Landon, the youngest of six children in Bear Creek, Montana. After her mother’s passing when she was five years old, Pat lived back and forth between her sisters and brothers. She attended schools in Washoe, Red Lodge, Minnesota, and Billings, and she graduated high school from Belfry. During high school, she met the love of her life, Charles William Rivers. The two were wed on June 11, 1955, in Belfry. They were married for over 67 years until Bill’s passing in 2022.
Pat and Bill settled in Billings where they raised their five children. Pat was a housewife and stay-at-home mom for most of their marriage, but she went to work at Rocky Mountain College as a cook when Bill went on strike in 1974. Pat decided she enjoyed having her own income and kept working after the strike. She continued to work at RMC until she retired in 1991. In Pat and Bill’s retirement, they moved to Fromberg, where they enjoyed their retirement years. In her retirement Pat traveled across the U.S. with her friends. She perfected her crocheting, making numerous afghans, blankets, sweaters, stuffed animals, stockings, etc. for her loved ones. Pat enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, and playing cards. She especially loved her cats who helped comfort her with Bill’s passing.
Pat was the backbone of our family; the one who all her children went to for advice. All of her children looked up to her and highly respected her opinion. She is survived by her son, Ken Rivers of Helena, daughter Melodie (Barry) Bennion of Billings, daughter Judy (Monte) Billing of Jordan, daughter-in-law Dona Rivers of Billings, 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Bill, son Bill, and daughter Lorna.
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