Heaven gained another Angel on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 when our beautiful and treasured wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully, with family by her side at Hill Top Home of Comfort in Killdeer where she had resided since August of 2019. Patsy’s celebration of life service will be 9:30 a.m., Monday, November 4, 2019 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Pastor Dorothy Stein officiating. Inurnment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday.
Patricia G. “Patsy” Houghton was born April 7, 1936 in Dickinson to Guy and Mae (Fiksdal) Houghton. She was raised and educated in Killdeer and graduated in 1953 from Killdeer High School.
It was in January 1952, while at a dance in Grassy Butte, that a young Army man preparing to be shipped overseas, met the love of his life. For the next year Clive and Patsy wrote many letters to each other causing love to blossom. On December 28, 1953 Patsy was united in marriage to Edward “Clive” Pelton. The newlyweds moved to Cando for the first six months of their marriage, after which time they returned to Dunn County. In 1959 they purchased the homestead of Clive’s great-aunt and uncle Rustad, where they continued to live and raise their seven children while farming and ranching.
Clive and Patsy were fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout Clive’s involvement with the Soil Conservation District. Following retirement in 2000 they moved into Killdeer. In 2009 Clive and Pat became snowbirds and in 2013 purchased a winter home in Mesquite, Nevada where they entertained many a family member and friend wishing to escape the cold North Dakota winters. They enjoyed both the company from home as well as showing their company the beautiful sights of the Mesquite area.
Patsy was well known by her family, the Watkins Salesman, and Dunn County Extension Agent for her delicious chicken dinners and caramel rolls. And of course, no meal was ever complete without Grandma Patsy’s famous Grandma Buns! Her cooking talents were shared with the Killdeer Senior Citizens during her 22 years as cook for the Elder Care program. Patsy always went the extra mile to provide meals and special desserts for “her Seniors”.
Patsy enjoyed fishing, boating, oil painting, gardening, caring for her well-manicured yard, playing bingo, going to the casino and annual 4th of July family camping overnighters at the Little Missouri Bay. Patsy was well-renowned for straying from the pack during the camp outing, and there were many mornings the family woke to find Pat and her boat off on her own fishing excursions. (We never knew until she returned whether she had floated away on purpose or if the previous nights storm had taken her on yet another adventure.)
Patsy was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Halliday and was a life member for 34 years. She was also very active in the Halliday PTA during her children’s school years.
Perhaps the most important thing Patsy would want to be remembered for is her unconditional love and devotion to her family and close friends.
Patsy is survived by her husband of 65 years, Clive, Killdeer; children, Russell (Darla), Bismarck, Pamela (Larry) Boepple, Killdeer, Ronald (Susie), Halliday, Richard (Susan), Killdeer, Nancy (Joey) Bogers, Halliday and Cindy (Bud) Kottisck, Mandan; sisters, Edna Mae (Jim) Duncan, Billings and Linda (Roger) Brew, Manning; sister-in-law, Ian Houghton, Bismarck; brother-in-law, Earl (Darlene) Pelton, Bismarck; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and numerous bonus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Preceding Patsy in death are her parents, Guy Houghton and Mae Booke; son, Roy Edward in 1982; brother, Gary Houghton; and dear friend and fellow fishing enthusiast, Betty Lou Pollestad.
