Patricia “Pat” Ronholt passed away at the family home on Jan. 25, 2023, after a brief illness. She was 84 years old.
Pat was born in Seattle, Washington to John B. and Marjorie. She graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Washington. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority and at a fraternity/sorority mixer she met Darrel Ronholt. They were married one week after she graduated from UW, and they made their first home in Astoria, Oregon.
In 1966, Pat and Darrel and their two daughters moved to Montesano. They built a home outside of town where she lived for 55 years.
Pat was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church, Elma, for over 55 years. She was a past Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School leader, Bible Study Outreach leader and a member of a quilting group that met at the church twice a month to make lap robes and quilts to donate to various agencies. She also created and managed the church library.
Pat was a longtime supporter of the Montesano Friends of the Library and organized the twice-yearly book sale for 10 years. In 2001, she was presented the Margaret Downey Memorial Community Services Award. She was a former Girl Scout leader.
Mom enjoyed gardening, reading seed catalogs, and visiting local nurseries looking for new and unusual plants.
Mom was an avid Mariner fan, and family and friends soon learned not to call during the game and expect her to answer the phone.
She was “camp boss” on yearly family camping trips taken throughout the Olympic Peninsula, involving three generations of family members, usually with a caravan of rigs towing a boat, tent trailer, travel traveler and the “chuck wagon.” A detailed menu was drafted, the chuck wagon was filled with food, games, bikes, firewood, camp chairs and anything else that “might” be needed. Later, a “cousins weekends” became a yearly event of camping and reminiscing.
Pat is survived by her daughters, Linda and Diane, brother John E., brothers-in-law Lael (Ellen) and Dennis (Kathy), nephews Jeff, Steve (Debi), Tony (Susan), Russell, and Andrew (Mercedes), nieces Cheryl (Paul) and Tracey , several great-nieces and -nephews, and dear friends Helen, Mary Jo and Debbie. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Darrel.
The family would like to thank the staff at Swedish Hospital – First Hill campus, Good Samaritan Hospital and Rehab Center, GHFD #2, and her home health care provider, Zack.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Elma on Feb. 25, 2023, at 11 a.m. with a lunch to follow in the fellowship hall.
Donations in her memory can be made to Montesano Friends of the Library or GHFD #2 – Brady.
Arrangements by Bonney Watson.
