Obituary of Pat L. Whelan

Patricia Louise Whelan (86) longtime St. Maries, ID resident, died April 18, 2014 at St. Maries. She was born June 29, 1927 to Orville and Elva (Hansen) Howe at the family farm a few miles south of Plummer, ID. Pat attended the first grade at Grandview School, a country school near her home. She then attended school in Tekoa, WA and graduated from High School there with the class of 1944. Pat then attended the University of Idaho where she was affiliated with Delta Delta Delta sorority. After three semesters at the U of I, Pat transferred to Kinman Business University where she completed a secretarial course. While at Kinman, Pat met her husband, Robert Whelan. They were married on January 31, 1947 at St. Aloysius church in Spokane, WA. They lived in Spokane while Bob finished his accounting course at Kinman. After that, they moved to Portland, OR where they both worked. They moved back to the family farm in Plummer where Bob worked. It was there that their two children Mike and Mary (Peggy) were born. On Feb. 2, 1953, they moved to St. Maries. Her husband bought in as a partner in the Benewah Market. In 1953, while the children were still at home, Pat began working for the County Agent, then the County Assessor and finally moved to the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Office where her benefits were improved. She worked for the ASCS office for over 11 years, until the agency had a reduction in force and she was laid off. She then went to work for her husband's insurance office who was an agent for State Farm Ins. As the agency grew, her husband hired full time help and Pat just did the bookkeeping and phased herself into retirement. Pat enjoyed her leisure time in her retirement years. She loved to putter around in her gardens or in her home. Pat was fond of reading, playing bridge and just keeping house. She loved music and played the piano and organ. She enjoyed playing piano for St. Mary Immaculate Church and singing in the choir. Pat was fond of animals and always had a little dog friend and loved each one of them. She always kept a canary and lots of house plants. After they built their home on the river, she spent at least five months of each year living there and tending to her yard which was her pride and joy. When Bob retired in 1995, the river home became their permanent residence. Pat loved her family. They came first and foremost with her. She was close to her extended family too, enjoying many trips with her brother and his wife. Pat enjoyed her friends but could be equally happy in her own company. She never felt bored because she could always think of something to read, handwork to do or gardening. She knitted so many afghans, through the years, that she claimed she ran out of friends to knit them for. Pat's husband Bob died in 2001. Pat never did aspire for public attention or glory. In fact, she was quite a private and shy person. She felt that her mission in life was to bloom where she had been planted. She would like to be remembered as a dutiful daughter, caring sister, devoted wife and loving mother. She was a member of St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, the St Maries Country Club, St. Maries Bridge Club and the Catholic Ladies. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Michael and Laurie Whelan of Spokane, WA and daughter and son-in-law Peg and Tom Carver of St. Maries. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brother Douglas Howe and Sister Nellah Mae Blaschke. Rosary will be recited on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. both at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery with a gathering of family and friends following at the Benedictine Hall. The family suggests memorials to either Hospice of Benewah County, St. Mary's Catholic Ladies or the Benewah County Humane Society. Visit her online memorial and sign her guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Pat Whelan's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.