Patricia Inbody

Patricia (Moulton) Inbody



With loving family by her side, Patricia (Pat) Inbody, 94, died Feb. 25, 2016, at Benefis Teton Medical Center in Choteau, Mont.

The memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Apr. 9 at the Choteau United Methodist Church with a private inurnment in the Choteau Cemetery preceding the service.

Pat was born on Feb. 4, 1922, in Atkinson, Neb., the daughter of DeLoss and Clara (Lemmer) Moulton. She attended the Collins Elementary School and Choteau Elementary and graduated from Teton County High School in 1940. Pat attended Montana State College in Bozeman, Mont., for one year and Montana State University in Missoula, Mont., for two years. She majored in English.

Pat enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 and served until 1946. She worked as a Yeoman in the Bureau of Ordinance of the Navy Department in Washington, DC, where she made vivid memories ranging from the splendor of the cherry blossoms to her first exciting ride in that new wartime vehicle, the Jeep.

On Oct. 16, 1946, Pat married Clark Inbody in Kalispell, Mont. The newlyweds settled in the Premium Center community. Pat recalled what a wonderful time all the young couples enjoyed as they raised not only their families and worked hard but also had such fun together, picnicking, attending card parties and dances and the like.

A great housewife and mother, Pat's fun-loving, generous and loving nature made wherever her family lived or visited a warm, inviting home. Aside from home-maker tasks, Pat was always ready to fry chicken and fix potato salad for a picnic in the mountains and prepared many delicious holiday dinners and bountiful meals for the harvest crew. She made the best pies! Along the way, Pat enjoyed reading, the love of which she instilled in her daughters and granddaughters, and read voraciously until the end. Her creative talents showed through her embroidery and cut-work and through her calligraphy. Pat was also a fan of crossword puzzles and worked the puzzle in each day's newspaper. Later, a bit of scheming by great friends finally convinced Clark to travel, so Pat was able to indulge her keen sense of adventure as she, Clark and their friends enjoyed many trips together.

Pat was a behind-the-scenes servant who quietly and ably served as the secretary of many organizations throughout her lifetime. Although often asked to be the president of those groups, Pat generally declined and chose to serve the entities through her organizational and writing skills. Over the decades, Pat's writing newsy, warm letters and sending specially picked greeting cards with a note brightened countless people's lives because she always knew what to say to encourage someone, to share good news, to offer comfort and to demonstrate her genuine love for others. Her ability to write encouraging correspondence was surely a God-given gift well applied.

As an adult community member, Pat was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, the Teton Medical Center Auxiliary, the Friends of the Library, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member for many years and a past president of the Collins Home Demonstration Club and served as Past Noble Grand of Queen Rebekah Lodge No. 31.

Pat is survived by her daughters, Susan (Robert) Facklam of Choteau and Irene Britton of Portland, Ore; sister, Geraldine Paulus, of Choteau; grandchildren, Katie Facklam of Farson, Wyo.; Marya (Zackery) Repko of Wichita, Kan.; Caleb (Elizabeth) Britton, Joshua Britton and Ruth (Keoni) Yasui, all of Portland; great-granddaughters Zoey and Lexi Repko, of Wichita; and several nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Clark Inbody; her parents, DeLoss and Clara Moulton; brother, DeLoss O. (Bud) Moulton; brothers-in-law, Willard Paulus, Glen Inbody and Harold Waters; sisters-in-law, Lucile Waters, Mildred Inbody, Hilda Moulton and Geneva Moulton; son-in-law, Lee Britton, and great-granddaughter, Beautiful Autumn Britton.

Memorials are suggested to the Benefis Teton Medical Center Foundation Endowment Fund, the Intermountain Children's Home in Helena, Mont., the United Methodist Church or a charity of choice.