Patricia (Pat) M. Potter

Patricia (Pat) M. Potter, 71, of Libby, Montana, passed away on Feb. 9, 2024, unexpectedly at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in the presence of her loving husband, Mike, and daughter, Kristina.

Pat was born Dec. 19, 1952, to Harold and Pauline Burch in Auburn, Washington, the second of four beloved daughters. Pat attended school in Auburn, working summers with her sisters picking berries. Pat graduated from Auburn High School as part of the Class of 1971.

Prior to graduation, Pat worked part-time for the Auburn School District and for a dry cleaner. Shortly after her graduation, life took her to Columbus, Georgia, where Pat found herself working for another school district. She appreciated her time in Georgia, making life-long friends while living there. 

Pat returned to Auburn following her adventure in Georgia, acquiring a job with the General Services Administration (GSA) in Auburn.

While working at GSA, Pat met the son of a co-worker. The meeting would turn to marriage in September 1977 with Mike Potter. Pat and Mike would go on to work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Mike secured a position at Libby Dam in mid-1983. Pat and Mike would welcome their only daughter, Kristina, in September of 1983.

Once in Montana, Pat obtained a position with the Forest Service, making a career, living happily with Mike, and raising Kristina in Libby. Pat retired from her career in the spring of 2015, after reaching nearly 46 years of government service.

Pat loved her family deeply and with three sisters she was blessed to have a very large extended family, spanning from Washington to Alabama. Growing up Pat’s family would travel to the family farm in North Dakota, during which so many precious, life-long memories were made with her parents, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. 

She enjoyed planting flowers in the spring and strategizing how to make her flower beds and pots deer and cat proof. Pat cherished her “grand-doger”, Kona, and traveled many miles with Mike to find the best spots for Kona to run and acting as doggy daycare. Pat was bestowed with “the gift of gab.” 

She would talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere, and genuinely listened, and cared for that individual. This gift blessed her with countless friends, all of which she treasured and looked forward to the next time she could chat with them.

Pat is survived by her loving family including her husband of over 46 years Mike, daughter Kristina, sisters Cathy (Patrick), Judy (Mark), Sue (Glenn), sisters-in-law Kris (Ken), Karen, brother-in-law Tom, nephews Jeremy (Sarah), Cody (Katie), Cole (Alexis), Matthew (Mandy), Joel (Wynette), nieces Kelsey (Mike), Nicole (Josh), and Katie (Victor), also many cousins, great-nephews and great-nieces, a large extended family, as well as many, many dear friends. 

She will be profoundly missed by all.

Pat will be laid to rest with her mother, Pauline, and father, Harold, in Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, Washington. 

A memorial will be held in Libby pending improved weather, but will be announced for those wishing to attend and reminisce.

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby, Montana. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.