Patricia Ann "Pat" Searle

Patricia “Pat” Ann Searle passed away on January 17th, 2023 in her hometown of Butte, Montana. She was born in Butte on September 22nd, 1929 to Elizabeth Thompson. Pat was raised in Helena, where she attended Helena High School. From there, she went on to receive both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education at Western Montana College in Dillon, MT where her love for teaching began. Pat met her husband of 50 years, Fred Searle, while attending Western. Following graduation, they moved to Canyonville, OR where they both took their first teaching jobs. They eventually moved back to Butte and Pat’s lifelong teaching journey flourished. Pat initially took a job within the Ramsay school district. A couple of years later she transferred to the Hawthorne School where she spent the majority of her teaching career. When the Hawthorne School closed, Pat transferred to Kennedy Elementary School and it was there that she finished out her 42-year teaching career. It was rare to go out in Butte and the surrounding communities without someone coming up to her saying, “Mrs. Searle, you were my 2nd grade teacher!” or “you were the best teacher!”. She never forgot a single student, their families, or specific memories she had with each and every one of them. Pat made a remarkable impact on a countless number of lives throughout her teaching career and well beyond that into her retirement years. Aside from her love for teaching, Pat was very involved throughout the community. She was part of many organizations including: St. Johns Episcopal Church alter guild, Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers, numerous pinochle groups, and knitting groups. She was always up for anything and the first one to jump in the car for a trip. Pat lived a life of love and was an extraordinary wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma- “GG”, and friend. She had so much love to give and was as loyal as they come. Pat took anyone and everyone under her wings and provided a shoulder to lean on when needed. In her later years, Pat cherished the time spent with her great grandchildren and she did not miss a single event that involved her “boys”. She was famous for saying “you can’t spoil a good thing” and she successfully lived by that saying. Her favorite time of year was undoubtedly Christmas, and she was blessed to be able to spend her final holiday surrounded by family. Pat will be missed by many, but her legacy will continue to live on through those she loved and those whose lives she touched. Pat is preceded in death by her mom, Elizabeth Thompson; husband, Fred Searle; and grandson, Shawn Searle. She is survived by her son David (Barbara) Searle; daughter Judy (Tom) Kiely; granddaughter Nicole (Cole) Salo and their three boys Cade, Clay, & Cason; grandson David (Beth) Knoepke and their 7 children (Will, Abi, Sam, Eben, Gabe, Nathan & Becky); granddaughter Jennifer (Scott) Anderson and their son Justin; niece Susie (Max) Decker. Pat’s celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 27th at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. with visitations beginning at 10 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the Butte Country Club. Donations can be made in memory of Pat to the Fred G. Searle Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Montana Tech.

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Patricia Ann "Pat" Searle

September 22, 1929 - January 17, 2023