Patricia Williams Burkhardt

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, to whom we all owe so much gratitude, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 29th, 2024, at the age of 94. What a life. As Mom told us often, "Being your mother was the funnest thing I ever did." We felt that love daily. Though she often said, "I majored in Ernest Hemingway," her interests ran the gamut. She loved all kinds of music, from Sting to Brahms. The common denominator was excellence. She loved taking us to the symphony, singing in the chorale, or dancing to country music (especially with Jerry). Travel, near and far, made her so happy. Short drives on a sunny day (thank you, dear Deb!) filled her with glee. A recent highlight was a trip to Koenigstein, Germany with her two daughters to meet one of her great-grandsons. Mom was filled with joy every single moment. Although food was not as appealing to her in later years, she never lost her ability to put away a 16 oz. ribeye with a glass of chardonnay, “tall.” Movies were also a great love...as long as they were riveting, were set in World War ll, or starred Anthony Hopkins or Gregory Peck. 

Nothing was more important to our mom than family. Her focus during our childhood was being our mother. She adored us. Mom and Dad enthusiastically supported all of our endeavors and interests. From providing space to build remote controlled airplanes, to creating the perfect prom dress, driving us to every lesson and attending every performance or game, Mom reveled in our joy. She exposed us to so much. If we hadn't been raised by Mom, we never would have known George Gershwin or Aaron Copland. We're pretty sure not many other junior high kids in Helena were enjoying artichokes with drawn butter on a regular basis. She had a special gift for making people feel valued in the best way possible. 

After we left home, she accepted an offer to work for Senator Max Baucus in Washington, D.C. The pace was unrelenting. Mom enjoyed recounting a particularly hectic day when she answered the phone with, "Maucus, Baucus, Aucus." During that time she was thrilled to have met senators Dick Lugar and John Glenn as well as Sandra Day O'Connor. Politics and current events were always important to her. She later became a successful businesswoman. Mom was surprised by how much she loved owning and operating her own temporary employment agency. Mom had a knack for recognizing people’s strengths and connecting them to the right employers.  After retiring she really got into what she called “commerce and product,” selling gorgeous boiled wool hats. Marketing was fun for her and it came naturally. 

Mom was raised in Granville, Ohio and graduated from Denison University. She worked as a social worker after college, then soon married our dad Dr. Jock Bovington, eventually moving to Helena, Montana. She was proud of her connection to Ohio but her greatest love was Montana. Mom loved taking us huckleberry picking, canoeing across Lindbergh Lake and growing crops in Fishtail. She loved that the men in her life loved to fish. The mountain vistas, the big sky, the four seasons, its numerous and interesting small towns, and Montanans themselves, all made Montana the perfect place for her. On every drive, she commented on the stunning beauty of Montana and the good fortune she felt to see it. Later in life she married Rev. Bill Burkhardt, settled in Billings and then Fishtail. Fishtail was her haven. 

These are all the people who were lucky enough to be related to Mom: her children, Jill (and Jerry) Duke, Jock (and Tere) Bovington, Kim (and Ted) Mead, Sam (and Teri) Bovington, and Tom (and Judy) Bovington. Her 'adopted' daughter Deb Hoagland. Her grandchildren, Samia, Tivan, Jock, Jace, Patrick, Ben, Megan, Sammy, Helen, and Neal. Her great-grandchildren Christopher, Nash, Quinn and Owen. She is also survived by Bill Burkhardt’s children: Kerry Burkhardt, Lindy (and Jim) Bartruff and Cynthia dos Santos. There are many other kinfolk near and far who have loved her and been loved by her. We have felt their abiding devotion. 

We are filled with gratitude for the many caregivers in Missoula who have made these final years so special for Mom. She noticed it too. "How lucky am I that caring for me is your favorite thing." And “Thank you for not majoring in carpentry.” These include the staff at The Springs at Missoula, the Village Health and Rehabilitation Center, St. Patrick's Hospital, Hestia Advantage Hospice and Palliative Care as well as the caregivers from Home Instead. They were caring for her but in many ways they were also caring for us. And our friends became Mom's friends over the years. We know that their attention and love came from the heart but we want them to know it made a huge difference in ways they can only imagine.

Her sense of humor (towards the end, she asked, "What will you do when my zest kicks back in?"), hugs and kisses, abundant love of life, gratitude and wisdom will be sorely missed. But we know that we have been, as Mom would say, “Big Luckies.”

For Mom, any excuse for a celebration would do. And the celebration of her life will be a big damn deal. We'll let you know. In the meantime, to honor our mom, in lieu of flowers, follow her lead! Go dancing, vote, thank a caregiver, follow your bliss, never lose your sense of humor, and hug your family and tell them you love them. Mom would be so happy.