Mary Ellen "Patty" Wilda

Mary Ellen Patty Wilda, 90, died of natural causes on August 15, 2014 in Great Falls.A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, at Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum, 1410 13th Street South, in Great Falls. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Patty was born on February 26, 1924, the youngest of eight children, to parents Margie Ann and William Forman Talbott, in Belt, Montana.Growing up in the shadow of the Great Depression, Patty had a grateful heart, and was thankful for her opportunities to work. She enjoyed her job at the local malt shop in Belt during her high school years. After graduating, she moved to Great Falls and worked at Montgomery Ward, and finally at Kenkels shoe store on Central Avenue. She later shared countless stories with her grandchildren about the people she grew up with or knew from work, and the lives they lived during the WWII era. Pattys memory was phenomenal, and she could recount anything asked of her in amazing detail.Patty was sipping Orange Crush in a Black Eagle nightclub in 1946 when she met her husband. She spotted the tall soldier with strawberry blonde hair the moment he entered the room. Wouldnt it be something if he asked me to dance? she said to her girlfriends, mere moments before he made his way across the room to her and asked her to dance. It was the first of many dances they would share.On August 27, 1946, she married Louis Wilda, the handsome soldier who had served in the Armys 10th Mountain Division. They were married in Great Falls, and made their home there as well. The next year, their first son, Jerry, was born. Larry, their youngest, joined them in 1952. Patty and Lou were inseparable companions. Wonderful memories of them remain with us, many of them involving family fishing trips and holidays. They were married for 56 years when Lou passed away in 2002.Patty Ma was a cherished mother, grandmother, and friend to all in her family. Her home was a place where family and neighbors loved to gather, and it was filled with warmth and laughter. She was the most loving and giving person any of us have ever known. She offered truly Christian love to all.Patty received care and assistance in her final years of life at Beehive Homes.Patty is survived by her older sister, Letty Hanson; sons Jerry (Karen) Wilda, and Larry (Kathy) Wilda; and daughter Marly Nichols, all of Great Falls; eight grandchildren, Sharlo Lilly (Casey) of Great Falls, Timothy (Suanne) Wilda of Provo, UT, Amy Beames of Great Falls, James (Summer) Wilda of Roosevelt, UT, Karen (Adam) Byrne of Boise, ID, Kelly (John) Palomo of Great Falls, Holly (Geoff) Loomis of Great Falls, and David Ashby of Great Falls; 24 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.Patty was preceded in death by her husband.