Patricia Leona (Dungan) Walisch

Mom was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, the daughter of Carl and Velma Connors. She was a pretty little thing and she caught the eye of a slender soda jerk named Louis. It didn’t take long for him to win her heart and they were soon married. Louis took his young bride to Mason City, Washington, where he got a job with the Grand Coulee Dam Reclamation Project. Soon after their family began to grow and along came Mary Louise, Louis Jr., Patricia Anne, Madeline Marie and Margaret Jeanne.

When the headquarters for the Bureau moved to Ephrata, Dad moved his little family there too. Dad was a mighty hunter and he would take one or two of his children out with him to kill wild rabbits (they flourished in the Columbia Basin). Mom had a wonderful way of pickling the rabbit meat and it was always a special Christmas treat. She filled many hours sewing clothes for her growing family and she became a master of putting together delicious meals on a small budget.

Mom shared her love of movies with her children at a time when you could see a romantic musical for only 50 cents. On many a summer day you would find her outside laying on a blanket (trying to get a suntan) reading her favorite movie magazines and drinking a Tab.

Dad’s career changed and he took a job with the National Park service, moving all but Mary (who had married) and Louis Jr. (who had joined the Army). While in Montana Mom gave birth to her last child, Betty Jane. But Glacier was not to be their permanent home and so, after a time, the family moved to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, once again leaving behind a child, Patricia.

The last move the family made was to their Cascade Valley home in Moses Lake, WA., when Dad retired. Mom set up housekeeping again with just Dad and Betty. Neither Madeline nor Margaret moved with them as they were now married.

Mom was lucky enough to live in a time when she didn’t have to work an outside job. Just raising six children was job enough for her. Her retirement years were filled with cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting, working out at 1-2-3 Fit, watching T.V. (she loved HGTV, FOX news, Western movies, NASCAR, and football), eating out at fast food places (especially Taco Bell and Quiznoz), crossword puzzles, and shopping trips to Wenatchee and the Richland mall. She was a dreamer who longer to travel and she loved all things that sparkled.

Mom was gently taken to Heaven early on Sunday morning, August 16th. She was preceded in death by her son, Louis Jr., an her dear husband Louis Sr., of 65 years.

She is survived by her daughters: Mary (Jim) Link of Moses Lake, WA, Patricia Toftum of Columbia Falls, MT, Madeline Hall of Moses Lake, WA, Margaret (Dennis) Marshall of Pasco, WA, Betty (David) Crag of Moses Lake, WA.

She is also survived by her beloved dachshund, Brandi, 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She will be sorely missed by all who loved her and knew of her.