Patricia Gibsen

Patricia L. Gibson - Patty, Pat, Mom, Sma, Granny Pat, however you knew her, was born in Bozeman in 1938 and raised in the Springhill Community on her family's diversified ranch. Brother Ray joined her in 1940 and they were partners in crime, riding horses and sledding to the Springhill one room schoolhouse through 8th grade. Pat graduated from Gallatin County High School even though she was in the Belgrade School District as her Grampa Charlie Cramer was County Commissioner and she could ride to school with him. Education was important in her family and Pat was encouraged and supported to pursue a secondary degree. Coming from a long line of artistic talent, she got a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Art from Montana State College. After college, she and her friend, Bev Smith, pursued job interviews in Seattle, WA, but she returned to work for the Ed Stanley Ashford Art Studio in Gallatin Gateway.

She regretted not getting an Art Education degree, but used her wonderful teaching skills to help many, many children through her time as a Rainbow leader, 4-H leader, bus driver, giving art lessons, and her great "example of character." She was a 50 year member of Eastern Star, a Worthy Matron, and a member of the 4-H Council.

Pat always was a worker. She worked in various agriculture fields and could do anything from haying to cutting meat from her early teens until she couldn't anymore. This included selling insurance and being a brand inspector. She was working in West Yellowstone during the Hebgen Lake Earthquake of 1959 and bought a brand new 1972 Camaro with her earnings from selling Avon. Pat liked a car with "scoot."

She always did art in one way or another, mostly doing commercial sign painting until her girls were raised. Then she began doing watercolor painting and a whole new world opened for her. She traveled around selling her art and doing her favorite "plein aire" painting. She became a member of the Bozeman Artists Club for 30 years, and was accepted to many juried art shows as well.