Patricia "Patty" Leigh (Fauver) Tash

Patricia Leigh Tash was born on April 12, 1934 in Ekalaka Montana to parents Jay Wellington Fauver and Maebelle Clara Miers Fauver.  She passed quietly into heaven on August 26th surrounded by the love of her children.

Patty, as she preferred to be called, had an older brother Phillip Emmerton Fauver and a younger sister Betty Louis Fauver Thom, both who passed away before her.

Patty spent the first 15 years of her life on a small farm near Ekalaka in a two room log cabin akin to Little House on the Prairie.  Her father ran a barbershop on the main street of Ekalaka and her mother was a school teacher.  Patty and her siblings were responsible for the care of the animals from a very young age.  Patty always had a strong work ethic, sitting still was not something she could do until recently.  After seventh grade the family moved to Lewistown.  The family had a small store there and her mother continued to teach school.  The family was only in Lewistown for one year, during which Patty graduated the 8th grade. Although they were only there a short time, Lewsitown was always a special place to her.  In 1941 the family moved to Ryegate, where Patty graduated high school.  It was a very small class of graduates and Patty stayed in touch with her classmates throughout the years.

The summer of 1954 she met Ronald Lee Tash, a truck driver, while working at the local Tasty Freeze in Roundup, Montana.  They married the following year on October 8th, 1955.  Between the two of them they brought 3 children into the marriage.  Roger Alan, Marilyn Elizabeth, and William Weston. They added 5 more children to the household over the next 8 years, Linda Lee, Ronald Patrick, Diana Lynne, Leland Clinton and April Marie.  Patty and Ron were married for 64 years before he passed away in February 2020.  Patty is survived by all 8 children, 18 Grandchildren and 30 Great Grandchildren.  She was well loved by all of them.

Soon after their wedding in 1955, Ron and Patty moved to Helena where they operated a small gas station while Ron continued to drive truck.  This left Patty with the challenge of running the household, the business and keeping herd on the kids, frequently by herself.  She was amazing.  Although finances where tight, she could stretch a dollar like none other.  She keep the family well fed, clothed, disciplined (she did not spare the wooden spoon) and healthy.  A favorite memory is coming home from school to the Chestnut Street house and finding fresh baked cookies on the counter.  She was always trying new recipes and spoiling the family with cooking their favorites.  Most importantly she passed on her deep faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. No matter the weather they were off to church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evenings.

After many years on Chestnut Street, in 1976 they moved to Canyon Ferry Lake.  Patty loved gardening and flower beds.  With an acre of land she grew all kinds of fresh vegetables and flowers.  In 1985 Ron and Patty started their own business, T&M Transport in Helena.  The business thrived with Ron doing the sales and Patty handling the books and office operations.  She often played cribbage with Ron during their lunch break and one year beat him 30 days straight.  A fact she liked to relive from time to time.  In 2000, after 45 years in Helena they retired and moved to Corvallis in the Bitterroot Valley. She loved the 40 acre property and especially the view.  Soon after moving to Corvallis, they began breeding horses.