Patricia A. Bliss

Patricia Ann “Patty Ann” Bliss of Great Falls passed away on January 22, 2023 at the age of 89. A Memorial Service will be held later this spring.

Patty Ann was born on March 20, 1933 to Perry and Myrtle Mathews in Turtle Lake, North Dakota. She was the middle child of 9. At the age of 4, her family homesteaded on the Asheulot Bench above the Sun River Valley. Patty Ann and her siblings went to grade school in Sun River and as their family accounted for half of the school’s population, it made sense that her dad, Perry, became the school bus driver. Patty attended high school in Simms, graduating in 1951. After high school she moved to Great Falls where she worked as a secretary until she married Brent Bliss in 1955. In their early years as a couple, she and Brent greatly enjoyed attending local dances.

Once married, the couple moved to the family farm east of Dutton where they raised two sons. In addition to her role as mother and farm wife, she honed her skills as an artist. She enjoyed painting with her watercolors and oils, as well as firing and painting china. Her passion became a part-time occupation, as she sold many pieces of art throughout her career. Patty Ann’s proudest achievements included being featured in a national magazine for her paintings on barnwood in 1974 and having another painting included in the C.M. Russell art auction. At an early age, and out of family necessity, she discovered a joy in sewing and was happy to avoid outdoor chores (milking the cows) by contributing to the family in this way. Sewing would become a lifelong hobby, inspiring and teaching her great-granddaughters how to sew, as well as quilting with her friends at the Lutheran Church.

Patty’s sewing skills translated to another hobby of hers, making and collecting dolls. For many years Patty enjoyed being a member of a local doll club. She used her talents to make dolls from scratch and also mend antique ones that would seem beyond repair to anyone else. Patty was a true artist who loved to create, whatever the medium.

For several years Brent and Patty enjoyed spending their winters in Branson, MO where they could enjoy live music and appreciate the arts. Once grandkids became more involved in winter sports, however, they stayed in Montana, happily driving all over the state and Canada, never missing a game. Patty especially enjoyed watching basketball and always wished she had gotten to play growing up, but girls at that time were not given the opportunity.

Patty will be greatly missed, however, she wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her loved ones, where she is now. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Brent Bliss; brothers Perry, Ernie, and Charlie Mathews; and sister Laura Brandt. She is survived by her sons Stuart (Loretta) of Dutton and Gerald (Ebbie) of Vaughn; grandkids Shari, Candice, Colby, Kevin, and Blair; and great grandkids Matthew, Caysen, Zaeza, and Ruby.

Memorials be made to the charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia A. Bliss, please visit our floral store.