Patricia Hansen

Patricia Ann (Sandbo) Hansen, 92, of Raynesford, an artist, a musician, a seamstress, a school teacher and a rancher, died of natural causes on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at a local assisted living facility.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home.Born on December 12, 1920, in Lewistown, Montana, Pat was the youngest daughter of E.O. Sandbo and Florence (Preston) Sandbo, sister to Shirley and Preston. The family lived in Roy, MT and when Pat was a first grader they moved to Stanford where they bought and operated the local drug store.Their mother drove the girls 50 miles on gravel roads and then some to Great Falls for music lessons.Pat grew up making chocolate sodas at her fathers drug store in Stanford and later graduated from Stanford High School in 1938.Having a passion for art, she continued her education at the Montana State College graduating in 1942 with degrees in Applied Art, Music, and Home Economics.An accomplished musician, she played first chair violin in the MSC Orchestra.She was also very active in many clubs including: Art Club, Chorus, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, Ski Club, Rifle Team, Majorettes, Homecoming Queen Miss MSC and ROTC Sponsor.In August 1942, Pat, her sister Shirley, and her mother boarded a train for Arkansas where she married William W. Galt. He died in WWII in 1944 and was posthumously awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his service. During the war years she taught school in Stanford and Bozeman. In 1948 Pat married Wendell Hansen, a third generation rancher of Raynesford, MT. Pat and Wendell raised their three sons on the ranch. Pat had a love of nature, painting, gardening, and hunting, her seven Huns with one shot has never been equaled. She commuted to teaching jobs in Geyser and Stanford from 1963 to 1976 and later commuted to Great Falls to be Ethan Allen Furniture's home decorator and planner. Pat was a gifted teacher and shared her artistic abilities with many students and touched many lives in Judith Basin, County. Pat's music came full circle when she taught her grandchildren. Teaching them piano and violin is a time they will cherish. She was a loving mother and a skilled seamstress. Pat made beautiful clothing with impeccable style to perfectly fit her family's individual sizes. She loved raising her dogs and caring for her cats by carrying warm milk to the barn each morning even through the cold, snowy winters. Who could compare the gallons and gallons of berries she picked for canning, or the way she carefully peeled each skin off the grapes in her Concord grape pies. Her Lemon Meringue wasn't bad, either. She tenderly cared for the ranch by painting the buildings, fixingbroken windows, and picking cans out of the ditch along the highway. Pat was the kind of woman who brought people together. Everyone was welcome at the ranch. She always took special care and prepared extra food for the occasion when unexpected visitors would drop in. It pleased Pat to entertain her family and friends. And lets not forget how much she loved to dance with Wendell.They were always the last to leave. Pat will be dearly missed by all who knew her.Patricia is survived by her sons Rick (Janine) Hansen of Bozeman, Brent (Jenifer) Hansen of Belt, and Lee (Jeannie) Hansen of Raynesford; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.She was preceded in death by her first husband, Capt. William Galt in WWII; and her second husband, Wendell Hansen in 2008; brother Preston Sandbo; and sister Shirley Hammer.The family wishes to thank Azalea Place for taking such kind, loving care of Pat during the last years of her life.We are grateful.Memorials in Patricias name may be made to the Judith Basin County Museum, 93 3rd Str. S., Stanford, MT 59479.