Patricia Ann Smith age 88 passed away October 15, 2024 in Helena after we had a moment of prayer. She had been struggling with failing health and continued falls which placed her in health facilities the last couple of months of her life.
She had many names, Pat, Patty(Ann), Patsy(Ann), wife, sister, mom, and Nana. The oldest of three siblings Pat was born to Russell and Marianne McVay December 5, 1935 in Wheeler MT. Upon moving back to Great Falls Pat’s sister Carol McVay was born followed by her brother Jack McVay. She spent her younger years between Great Falls and Lewistown. She loved to reminisce about her time she spent with family in Lewistown.
Pat married Leroy Bacon and 5 boys came from that marriage. Michael John, Douglas Steven, David Patrick, Nicholas Joseph, and Thomas Ross. They later divorced.
She attended school in Great Falls. While her primary job in life was being a mom (which she loved being) she did have some jobs as a bartender and cocktail waitress. She was cocktail waiting when she met Ben while he was in Great Falls for an Eagles FOE conference.
Pat married Benjamin Cleveland Smith in Great Falls MT on December 22, 1971. With that marriage came their daughter Camie Sue Smith. Ben proceeded Pat in death April 25, 2003.
Once married to Ben, Pat moved her and her boys to Helena. Ben embraced the challenge of helping Pat raise the Bacon boys, whom he loved as he did his own children.
Pat and Ben made their home in Helena for over 21 years. Although she made many friends and connections in Helena, she made a choice for her and Ben to move back to Great Falls after Ben was in a terrible wreck in 1993. She felt a very strong need to be closer to her sister and friends she made growing up in Great Falls.
Known for the gift of gab she would talk to anyone and never met a stranger. She loved going to parties and when it was time to go Ben would give her 3 “well it is time to go” before she knew he was ready and she needed to go. Which her daughter also employed that tactic later in life.
She found humor in almost everything in her life. Her tenacious sense of humor could wear on a person at times. However, if you commented on her finding things funny, she simply stated “well with all the things in my life I have endured I need to find humor or I would just be in a bad spot”.
Being the mom of five boys wasn’t easy and she knew her boys were a “rough bunch” but she loved them all very much. While she loved them all, she knew the boys were not easy to date/live with which made her have a tendency to take the side of the girlfriend/wife when it came to her boy’s being a “rough bunch”.
As the Nana on the guy side of the grandkids she had some hurdles for her to be present in her grandchildren’s lives. All the women made sure to involve her as much as possible, which she greatly appreciated. She attended as many events, parties, celebrations as possible. If anyone had any doubt about her love for her grandchildren all you would need to do is walk into her house you would know that she loved being a Nana and loved ALL of her grandkids/great grandkids and loved any and all interactions she had with them.
Pat loved to play cards and really enjoyed her time playing pinochle. While living in Helena she loved playing with her lady’s group and had to make her “famous” shrimp dip. Upon moving to Great Falls she found her new pinochle home at the Senior Center. She was a stickler for rules and was not afraid to point out those that were not playing correctly.
She loved everything British. BBC was her favorite channel and enjoyed watching all of the programs available. If she found a person with a British accent she would engage her natural talent of chatting and would start a conversation to listen to that accent every chance she could get. She always wanted to go to England but as she got older the idea of flying was not appealing to her any longer.
Pat is proceeded in death by her mother Marianne, father Russell, her husband Ben, her brother Jack, Leroy, and sons David, Nick, and Tom.
Pat is survived by her daughter Camie, sons Mike and Doug, sister Carol McVay, her stepchildren Mickii (Ed) Coutts, Benita (Steve) Harper, Benji (Joan) Smith, Robyn (Jim) Haskett, Brett (Amy) Smith, several grand and great grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday May 31st, 2025 at 2:00 pm at The American Legion Post 2, 3095 Villard.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday May 31, 2025
American Legion Post 2
3095 Villard
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday May 31, 2025
American Legion Post 2
3095 Villard
Helena, Montana 59601
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