Patti J Lee Stoos, retired Special Ed/Title I teacher and antiques dealer, passed out of this world on September 5, 2018, at the Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton, Montana. Her graveside service will be 3:00 p.m., Thursday, September 13, 2018 at the Geraldine Cemetery. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Patti's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com .

Born on June 21, 1942 to Ida Fram Lee and Elmer A. Lee in Seattle, Washington, Patti eventually moved with her parents to Deer Lodge, Montana where she attended school and graduated from Powell County High School in 1960.

Upon high school graduation, she moved to Dillon, Montana, where she attended Western Montana College, graduating in 1964 with a BS degree in Elementary Education. While in Dillon she worked part-time at the Safeway grocery store alongside a man named Stanley S Smith, who would one day hire her to teach at Geraldine.

She left Dillon and taught grade school in Hamilton and Great Falls. Then in1976 she completed graduate credits at Northern Montana College and signed a contract with Geraldine Public Schools to teach Special Ed/Title I.

In May of 1999 Patti chose "early retirement" but continued to substitute teach through 2001 when she moved to Fort Benton. Due to poor health, Patti became a resident of Missouri River Medical Center from 2007 until the time of her death.

In her lifetime Patti or "Stoosie" as she was lovingly called chose to laugh often and have fun with family as well as friends. She loved antiques and antique shows and went "junking" with many life-long friends. Her business Patti Cakes took her state-wide with many treasured items bought and sold.

She loved her students most of all. Some will remember Mr Pazoo time, learning how to Square Dance, Secret Santa and how to navigate life and school when there were challenges. She was quite an "interrogator." It was said that she could glean "info" out of students and family members, especially teens, even when they didn't want to talk.

Yellow roses were her favorite flower and oh did she love sugar! She loved sugar in all forms—chocolates, cookies, cakes, just to name a few. She drank Tab, Fresca and most of the time lemonade. Cats were a favorite as well, she loved all her animals, especially the multitude of kittens. From feral to lap cats, they all had names. Other favorites were blue eye shadow, exquisite costume jewelry and elegant hair styles. Many a time she was seen with her blonde hair in pink curlers covered by a scarf.

Her life in Geraldine was spent with "her cowboy" Wes Stoos and his children Michelle Stoos Cottrill, Brent and Todd Stoos.

She also left behind special friends who traveled with her and visited her at the Center.

This loyal friend, fun-loving teacher always looked at life through the eyes of a child. Indeed, she was one of a kind.

Her friends and family would like to thank the doctors and staff at MRMC for their considerate care. We know that she wanted to "come home." And today she is home. She is free, she is free, she is free!