Patricia Johnson

Patricia Ann Johnson, 84, of Idaho Falls, passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012, at Friends and Family Assisted Living Center in Idaho Falls. She was born March 26, 1928, in Billings, Montana, to Frank G. Connelly and Mabel Nordstrom Connelly. She was raised in Billings and attended elementary school there. Her high school years were spent at the private girls’ schools Helen Bush in Seattle, Washington, and Castilleja in Palo Alto, California, where she graduated in 1946. Pat returned to Montana, where she attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings and Montana State University in Missoula, studying music and home economics. Shortly after going to work for the telephone company in Billings, she met Leroy Theodore (Buzz) Johnson of Helena, Montana. They were married in December of 1952 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Their early years of marriage were spent in Evanston, Illinois, where four boys were born. In 1966, they moved to Pocatello, Idaho. The following year they relocated to Idaho Falls, where Pat spent the majority of her remaining life. After a four year battle with cancer, her husband of 25 years died in 1977. For a short time, she lived in Billings, where she cared for her mom, Mabel, until the time of her death. Pat worked as a loan officer in the mortgage industry throughout her life. The last 15 years of her working career were at the Senior Citizen Center. She enjoyed the time spent as a receptionist and the associations she made there. Pat had a great love for music, enjoyed playing the organ, word games such as Scrabble and crossword puzzles, and doing puzzles while watching comedies on TV. She loved all kinds of handiwork and especially sewing holiday decorations which she sold in the Senior’s Center gift shop. She loved visits and phone calls from family and considered her “3 boys as her greatest accomplishment.” She is survived by her sons: Phillip (Connie) Connelly Johnson of Billings, MT; Son, Mark Allen Johnson of Denver, Co; Son, Brant G. (Teresa) Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID; Brother, Robert Connelly of Nashville, TN. 7 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren Pat was preceded in death by her husband, L.T. (Buzz) Johnson, her parents and a brother, Frank B. Connelly. Private Services for family and close friends will be held. Interment will be at Fielding Memorial Park in Idaho Falls at a later date.