Patricia "Pat"'s Obituary
"Pat," Patricia Ann Marsden, age 85, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2023.
Pat was born May 1, 1938, in Great Falls to Percy and Pearl Smith. Pat grew up on the lower north side of Great Falls where she was able to run free and play with her friends and even ice skate on Gibson Pond. Pat was blessed with a younger brother, Deane Smith, and she devoted time to him, truly adored him for his entire life. Pat’s father, Percy, passed away when she was a young teenager and her mother raised her and Deane alone.
She met Malcolm Carlisle and they married at a young age, through that marriage a daughter, Spencé and son, Jeff were born. Malcolm and Pat parted ways and some time went past before she met Ray Robison. Ray soon had an instant family, becoming a wonderful stepfather to Spencé and Jeff. From that union a son, Brian, "Mom’s water bug" was born. Mom was camp cook, boat captain, house cleaner, road crew flagger, caregiver, always keeping busy. When that relationship ended, Mom kept herself busy raising Brian and working on the upper north side.
She became a staple in the Northside Shopping Center, first at Ben Franklin, then with Snyder Drug where she retired. In those years she met George Hemler and was married for a short time. While she as working at Snyder Drug a man came and courted her everyday, even though she was defiant, he won her over and she married her "forever husband," Robert "Bob" Marsden. They remained married and happy until Bob's passing.
Mom stayed very active going to the Peak for water aerobics and doing volunteer work until she began her battle with dementia which slowly took over until her mind and body could no longer fight it. You could always find her best friend since 2nd grade, Nancy Long, nearby, they were inseparable.
Pat was an amazing, devoted mother to her three children, daughter, Spencé (Ron) Eli and sons, Jeff Carlisle and Brian (Dawn) Robison. A loving grandmother to Paul (Kristy) Leach, Jon (Jenni) Leach, Shayla Leach Coble, Tim (Christine) Leach, Jayde (Queeny) Stephens, Jeanette (Tim) Schmitt, and Alex Fisher. A loving aunt to Scott (Val) Smith, Deana (Dan) Flannery, and Ryan (Tina) Smith.
She was preceded in death by her infant son, Authur Deane; husband, Robert Marsden; parents, Percy and Pearl Smith; loving brother, Deane Smith; sister-in-law, Sandra Smith; and daughter-in-law, Bev Carlisle.
Mom was a strong, determined, and very independent woman who will be greatly missed.
We would like to thank the staff at Highgate, Benefis Hospital, and Peace Hospice who took wonderful care of Mom. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
