Patricia Elaine Nelson

Patricia Elaine Nelson was born on June 9, 1931, in Collbran, Colorado to Edna Berenice (Mann) and George Harold Nelson. As editor of the local newspaper, The Collbran Voice, her father printed her birth announcement on the front page of the newspaper with the headline “New Voice at the Voice”.

Pat’s father died when she was 9 years old. As she grew up, Pat remained close to her Grandma Nelson (Effie Cromer Nelson). Pat was inspired when her grandmother took up painting and poetry in her eighties. Pat owned many of Grandma Nelson’s original paintings and had most of her poems written out in longhand on notebook paper. She yearned to preserve this work, so finally in 2010, for Pat’s birthday, daughter Judi published the book “Cameo Collection” comprising reproduction of Grandma Nelson’s art and poems. Following in Grandma Nelsons footsteps, Pat took up painting in her eighties. She and daughter Norma enjoyed painting together and Pat loved giving her paintings to family. Also in her eighties, Pat insisted on “one more horse ride”. The picture of her on Dancer was one of her favorites.

After husband George’s death, Berenice moved with her daughters to Grand Junction, Colorado. Pat played violin in the high school orchestra and at the age of 17 married classmate Lloyd Johnson. They had three children, Michael Eugene, Judith Lynn and George Matthew. They moved to Rifle, Colorado where Lloyd built the first home of their own.

Subsequently, Pat married Francis Michael (Mike) Cross, owner of Cross Jewelry in Rifle. She loved her stepchildren Marsha, Bob and Bunny Cross and their children. Mike and Pat had two children, Norma Jeanne and John Allen Cross. Mike was a square dance caller and Pat loved to dance. They usually attended dances twice a week. They started an engraving business named “Pat’s Plastics” and Pat spent many years engraving.

In 1979, Pat and son John followed Judi and Norma to Lolo, Montana. Montana remained her home base until her death. Here, Pat continued to square dance and took up clogging. She loved to spend Tuesday evenings at Wheat, Montana listening to Bluegrass music. She was fiddler Jesse Brown’s biggest fan.

Pat loved to go on road trips. She never slept in the car because she was afraid she’d miss beautiful scenery or wildlife. She had several decade long friends that she loved to go on day drives or trips. She loved to tell stories about their adventures and misadventures. Pat also enjoyed annual excursions to Colorado with daughter, Norma. She claimed the title Navigator but there is some discussion about how effective she was at that. Pat’s loyal friends and all of her surviving children were present for Pat’s last days on earth.

Pat was a Christian and raised her children in the church. Her family was her biggest joy and she spent most of her children’s growing up years as a stay-at-home mom. She attended Jesus Community Church in Stevensville, Montana.

Pat is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Bette Thayer Vaughn and Norma Wooten, son Michael Eugene Johnson and his daughter Amanda Johnson, son-in-law Gene Raymond Cyrus, and stepdaughter Mary Catherine (Bunny) Rohrig. She is succeeded by her children Judith Lynn Cyrus (Mark Naulty) of Goldendale WA, George Matthew Johnson (Shelly Oglesbee) of Lakewood CO, Norma Jeanne Becker (Ron) of Florence MT and John Allen Cross (Vicki) also of Florence MT, stepchildren Robert Cross (Judy) and Marsha Buske, grandchildren Juli Dawn Rising (Rob), Jaimi Kristen Cyrus (Achim Kuttler), Jillian Lindsay Cyrus (Robson Dossa), Scott Randall Becker (Jessica), Cody Allen Becker (Anna), great grandchildren Robert Dillon Rising, Elissa Dawn Rising, Kevin Alexander Sieber, Quincy Michael Johnson, Allen Reilly Becker and Deanna Lynn Becker and beloved nieces Valerie Morrill and Deb Drysdale.

Pat’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at Jesus Community Church, 318 College Street in Stevensville, Montana Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 AM. Donations in her honor may be given to her church or Hope Hospice where she was lovingly cared for the last few days of her life.