Patricia "Patti" Ribich

Patricia Jean Patti Ribich, 64, of Great Falls, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2015, due to a fall and complications from surgery.Visitation will be on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Friday, December, 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Patti was born to Edward and Billie Ribich, the third oldest of eleven children. She attended school in Great Falls and graduated from Great Falls High School. After graduating, she enrolled in Dahls Beauty College. Her time there was cut short, as she was needed to help out at home due to family emergencies.She worked at Sheffis Restaurant in Great Falls and helped at the Fort Benton location. After being in food service and around people she decided she really enjoyed this line of work and started working for AAFES as a civilian at Malmstrom AFB. She soon became manager and made this her career. After years at Malmstrom, she needed a change and transferred to Chandler, Arizona, then later to Ogden, Utah, until she retired.Patti moved back home and began helping take care of our mother. This gave her time to finally enjoy her passion of crocheting. She made everything imaginable, if you could imagine it, she would make it for you. She often made blankets for the Childrens Receiving Home and soft hats and mittens for cancer patients.Over the years, Patti became known as the Frog Lady, probably because of our last name Ribbich (Ribbit). She began collecting and receiving frogs, frogs, and more frogs. She has hundreds of frogs of all kinds!She never did marry or have children of her own, but over the years she became mom and grandma to many.Patti is survived by her brothers, Matthew, John (Michelle), and Martin Ribich all of Great Falls, and Mark (Joan) of Oregon; sisters Pam Reid of Missoula, Nancy (Cliff) Nelson of Joplin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great friends.She was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie and Billie Ribich and brothers Michael, Melvin, Billy, and David.