V.L. “Pat” Jones passed away March 21, 2011, just shy of his 98th birthday.
Pat was born July 5, 1913. His grandparents came to Montana in a covered wagon in 1891 and settled in Helena before homesteading in the mountains north of Lincoln.
Pat’s mother, Leona Tuck Jones, and two of her siblings were small children in the wagon. Leona married William Earnest Jones and they homesteaded near Simms where Pat and his siblings were born. The children attended one room schools there and in Lincoln before the family moved to Helena. Pat’s father was the first Fire Warden in Lincoln and one of the first hunting outfitters in the Lincoln Backcountry. As a teenager Pat and his lifelong friend, Sid Hendrix, explored the wilderness that later became the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas, traveling as far North as Big Salmon Lake. As a young man he worked on ranches near Lincoln, rode in local rodeos and began a lifelong love of horses. He made many packtrips into the Scapegoat and Bob Marshal Wilderness throughout his lifetime.
Pat graduated from Helena High School in 1933 in the middle of the great depression. Pat met and married Mae Conn Robinson, a young widow, in 1939 in Helena. That same year he was clearing timber for the construction of Highway 200 over Rodger’s Pass when he suffered a broken leg from a falling tree. He and his new bride traveled by train to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where doctors were able to save his leg.
Pat and Mae had two children, Leona and James. They owned and operated the Nu-Way Dry Cleaners on Last Chance Gulch until 1956 when they purchased the Log Cabin Motel, one of Helena’s earliest motels. They expanded the motel and renamed it the Gold Pan Motel. Pat was active in the Chamber of Commerce and was an enthusiastic promoter of Helena. Having helped his widowed mother build a successful business and then owning his own, he learned the value of hard work, living modestly, saving and investing for the future. In 1973 they sold the motel and retired to the Helena Valley where Pat started raising Black Angus cattle. In later years he credited much of his longevity and good health to his hard work in stacking hay bales and feeding the cattle through the winter.
Pat owned many horses throughout his life and his favorite pastime was taking children of all ages riding. He was an active member of the Helena Trail Riders for over 60 years. Pat was a member of the Helena Lodge #3 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite Bodies and the Algeria Shrine. He celebrated his 90th birthday by riding a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and rode on his last pack trip at age 92. His good health allowed him to continue riding beyond his 95th birthday.
Pat was preceded in death by Mae, his wife of 57 years; step-daughter, Frances Robinson Glenn Smith; step-son, Robert Robinson; brothers, Harold J. “Casey” Jones and Glen S. “Mick” Jones of Helena; sister, Josephine Kunnary of Pocatello, ID; and step-grandson, Robert C. Robinson. He is survived by his daughter, Leona Whiting of Seattle, Washington; son, James Jones (Sody) of Billings; grandchildren, Matthew Jones of Bozeman, Aaron Jones and Steven Jones of Salt Lake City, Kevin Whiting of Denver, Douglas Whiting of Seattle, Randy Robinson of Longmont, CO and Shelley Wood of Gillette, WY, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Pat is also survived by his long time companion, Alice Anderson, who made Pat a part of her large, loving family in Helena.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Pat’s long and healthy life will be held in Helena on Sunday, May 29th, during the Memorial Day weekend. Time and location will be announced later. The family suggests memorials in Pat’s name to Shriners Hospital for Children, or the Transportation Fund, both memorials are in C/O Algeria Shrine P.O. Box 1174, Helena, MT 59624. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Margaret Russell Colvin says
Pat was a friend of my father & mother Bob & Lolly Russell. This is from the early years. At the time when The 20’s & 30’s meant any kind of work would do.I had the pleasuer of meeting him a long time ago.I loved his stories , they were wonderful. I hope to get a chance to meet all of you.
Aaron Jones says
I miss you, Grandpa. Thank you for everything. Please give Grandma a hug and a kiss.
Bob and Jan Braico says
Dear Jim and Leona,
We are so very sorry to lean of Pat’s passing. In a person’s lifetime one is very priviledged to know even a handful of people of Pat’s qualities and character. We feel very lucky to be able to call him a good friend. We will miss him sorely.
Sincerely,
Bob and Jan Braico
Carol Fallang Kussman says
I can’t say enough of how generous a person “Uncle Pat” was to me and our family. Just like my father the “pointie toe club” moves on.
Don Jones says
RIP Uncle Pat, you were a good man, who taught all of us many things merely by the example in which you lived your life.
Doug Whiting says
What a great man. He will be missed very much. Love you Grandpa…..
George & Elaine Kunnary Harris says
Dear Jim and Leona
I remember as a little girl the times our folks got together for cards, fishing, camping, etc. He was “Uncle Pat” until I grew up and had to learn he was only a “shirt tail uncle” to me through Aunt Jo! He was always “Uncle Pat”, no matter! And if you have never heard the story, he pulled me out of the creek and saved me from drowning on one of those fishing trips! He was a great guy and I’m sure his memory will be forever cherished.
Sincerely, George & Elaine
Idaho Falls, ID
Jeane Didriksen says
Pat & his brother Mick were lifelong friends of the Didriksen family. The stories he told about the ‘ol Tuck’ ranch in Lincoln will never be forgotten.
I’ll miss playing ‘pinochle’ with him. I’ll miss his outstretched arms that always gave you a warm hug.
Kathy Dunlap Fritz says
What can I say about the passing of my favorite cowboy. He was in my life pretty much from day one and played an important part. He gave me my first job working at the motel. I have so many memories of the good times of growing up with the Jones family. For sure, he was in the heigth of his glory if he could get a kid on a horse. I was delighted to have been one of those kids. Thanks for the memories. Happy trails my friend, you will be missed.
Randy Hendrix says
I remember all our pack trips with my dad and Pat. A second Dad to us. An 80 year best friend to my dad. A class guy with a wonderful kind heart. He made special times for many kids. The world needs more like Pat.
Randy L. Robinson says
Grandpa was the BEST!!!
Rita Tenneson says
I had the privilege of visiting with Pat just a few weeks ago at the Waterford and reminiscing about his horses and my kids riding in Trail Riders. I am not sure he remembered who I was exactly but, none the less, I enjoyed our visit. I am Jack & Eleanor Kinsey’s foster daughter. We were good friends of Henry & EllaBelle Bushnell, Casey Jones and many of the related families. Often the times in days gone by, I saw him having dinner with Henry & EllaBelle at the Montana Nugget. We always had a fun “chat” – He made the world a lot brighter. My thoughts are with you and I know he is riding his most favorite horse up in the heavens and “kabitzing” and renewing friendships there.
Rita Tenneson says
I forgot to mention that I totally love the picture you have posted of Pat. It truely expresses him perfectly!
Wendy Murphy Williams says
To the family of Pat Jones. I did not know Pat real well but I do remember him helping my dad, Bill Murphy and me move and load some cows in the Helena valley out by the Masonic Home several years ago. He was a great horseman and a very nice man. Both my dad and I instantly liked him. I believe he even helped us move cows over at our ranch in Garrison too. My dad called me yesterday to see if I had read about Pat’s passing and he mentioned that Pat had even called him when there ranch house in Pompeys Pillar had burned down to offer help. We are sorry for your loss. What a great photo of him and his horse. It looks exactly how I remember him.