Patricia "Pat" Ann Matsko

Patricia Ann (Simmons) Matsko, 97, of Great Falls, died of natural causes August 3, 2023, at a Great Falls care facility.

Rosary is at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 10, 2023, at O’Conner Memorial Chapel. Her funeral is 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 11, 2023, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Black Eagle, with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Survivors include sons, Tom (Joann) Matsko and Art (Lori) Matsko; daughter-in-law, Danna Matsko; 15 grandchildren, Ahna (JT), Edika (Dan), Ransom (Beverly), Yuri (Leah), Shannon (Kyle), Elaina (Gary), Janece (Ching), Melissa (Dan), Sasha, Chris, Rachel (Jamie), Zach (Gia), Liam, Broden, and Elish; and 13 great-grandchildren, Quin, Harper, Milo, Beckett, Ryan, Natalie, Adam, Alexa, Valerie, Ethan, Connor, Kegun, and Pruitt.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas (Tom) C. Matsko; sisters, Donna (Simmons) O’Connell and Jeanette (Jinx) Simmons; son, John G. Matsko; and great-grandson Declan Matsko.

Patricia (Pat) A. Matsko was born April 2, 1926, in Little Falls, Minnesota to Harold and Jeanette (O’Driscoll) Simmons. Pat was the middle child of three girls, her sisters, Donna and Jeanette (Jinx). The family moved to Great Falls in 1938.

Pat graduated from Great Falls High School in 1944 and received an Associate’s Degree at the College of Great Falls in 1946.

She married Thomas C. Matsko in 1949, and for 52 years she and Tom owned and operated LMH Company/LMH Interiors, a home furnishings and interior design business on Central Avenue in Great Falls. They had three sons, Thomas H., John G., and Arthur D. Matsko.

In the 1960s, she was a volunteer at the C.M. Russell Museum and was an active member of Junior League Great Falls. Taking Tom in tow, they always took part in the annual Junior League Follies. She was an endearing Cub Scout Den Mother for Pack 9 and supportive team member for Tom when he was Boy Scout Scoutmaster of Troop 9.

She and Tom established and maintained The Matsko Bluebird Highway Bluebird Trail on Montana highway 434 by Wolf Creek, where they kept a rural residence, for over 30 years. She also was a member of Great Falls Book club as part of her life-long love of reading.

Pat and Tom had a love of travel and seeing new places. They were fortunate to see Hong Kong, Tahiti, New Zealand, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C, New Orleans, and most of the western U.S., all while they were spry and nimble. They had many memorable steelhead fishing trips to the Olympic peninsula with beloved friends and relatives, and they were able to spend some time with Tom’s sister, Helen, in Hawaii in March of numerous years to occasionally get a break from our Montana winters. They had and rode horses on the ranch of their dear friends the Murphys on the South Fork of the Dearborn River.

Pat was love. She had a pure heart, a truly kind soul, and was always cheerful–with a kind word for all. Her love for her family was always evident in each word, deed, touch, or hug. She cherished the close friendship she maintained with her sisters throughout their lives. Her love and support were instrumental in the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be greatly missed.