Patrick Banks

Patrick L. Banks passed away Aug. 7 in Spokane, Wash. Pat was born in Everett, Wash. in 1944. He lived in Moses Lake, Wash. where he met his wife of 52 years, Diane. Pat and Diane had one child and spent their early life in Moses Lake, Wash. and Moscow, Idaho where Pat was general manager for Tri-State Stores.

In 1978 they packed their bags and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. What a change. Initially in Fairbanks Pat taught A & P mechanics. Then he decided to return to school and graduated with his Master’s in Education. He immediately got a job as a fifth-grade teacher at North Pole Elementary. Between North Pole Elementary and Ticisuk Brown Elementary, Pat taught for 17 years. In those years, Pat changed many lives and gave his students an education and a confidence that many to this day still cherish. Pat had time for every student and every student mattered.

In 1998, he and his wife moved back to Washington to be closer to their daughter Heide. For the last 20 years Pat and Diane lived on Eloika Lake north of Spokane, Wash. Traveling was a favorite pastime of Pat’s and he and his wife traveled to Mexico and all over Europe many times. Paris was their favorite and will always hold special memories for his wife Diane. Pat had a great sense of humor which he loved to share with everyone. “Listen to what I mean, not what I say” was a challenge Pat liked to throw out there. That caught a lot of people! He was also a man of many interests from metal smithing, hunting, fixing everything (he owned five of every tool made) and mushrooming. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He just had a lot of information and that was quite a treasure.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Diane; his daughter Heide and husband Jim Hudson; two granddaughters Cali and Chase Hudson; two sisters Leona Tucker from Kennewick, Wash. and Mary Ann Elieff from Fairbanks, Alaska and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his two brothers Louis and Mike Banks and both parents Louis and Iris Banks.

“Life is what you celebrate. Even its end.” A celebration of life will be held in Moses Lake, Wash. on Sept. 29, 2018. The celebration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Best Western hotel. This will be Pat’s big party according to his wishes. Come and give him a toast!