Pamala "Pam" R. Atchison, 61 of Fort Benton, died on Friday, April 7, 2017 in Great Falls due to natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 14, 2017 at the Ag Center in Fort Benton with pastor Joe Jordan officiating. Memorials in Pam's name may be made to the Dedman Foundation or to the charity of the donor's choice. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Pam's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.bentonfh.com .

Pamala was born on March 2, 1956 to Eloda (Wilson) and Dale Alfred Detmers in Great Falls. She was raised there and attended CM Russel High School where she did not graduate but obtained her G.E.D. In 1974 she met George Wesley Atchison Jr. though a friend. George was an auto parts salesman and Pam was helping in a nursing home at the time. The couple moved to the farm outside of Geraldine in 1979 and in December of 1981 they adopted their son, Perry C. Atchison in Helena. The couple went their separate ways in 1989, and Pamala moved from the farm to Havre.

Pamala cared for others her whole life; first as a nurse's aide in Fort Benton at the hospital in 1976. She later attended Northern Montana College from 1988 to 1992 to obtain her degree in nursing. In 1991 she again began work in Fort Benton but this time as a Registered Nurse. Pamala continued to work at the Fort Benton Hospital and started Home Health with Pam Campus in 1997, upon Pam's death in 2004 She became the manager of the program until it lost its funding in 2010. Pamala then returned to the main floor of the hospital as an RN.

In 1998 Pamala met Jim Slaughter and the couple were inseparable from that day forward. She was not one for traveling but with Jim they went on many vacations; once to the Grand Canyon, Seattle, WA. And other destinations in the U.S. Jim and Pamala lived together until her death.

In 2014 she partnered with Natasha Cook to buy the Palace Bar, she loved the entire community of Fort Benton and wanted to see local businesses stay open. She enjoyed crocheting and scrapbooking. Cooking was a specialty of hers, she would make hearty meals and several Scandinavian dishes in honor of her heritage. She was also a collector of trinkets, including thimbles, dolls, and bells. Her compassion for animals came from both the farm and the many dogs she owned during her life.

She was proceeded in death by her mother Eloda and father Dale.

Pamala is survived by her son, Perry Christopher (Jennifer) Atchison of Havre; life partner, Jim Slaughter of Fort Benton; brothers, Kevin (Rhonda) Detmers of Post Falls, ID and Don (Dee) Detmers of Casper, WY; sister, Michelle Detmers of Great Falls; aunt, Yvonne Peters of Laurel; and many nieces and nephews.