James "Jim" Patten

– James Bruce Patten, 1929-2017

Jim was born on Nov. 14, 1929 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Lyal and Winifred Patten and spent his childhood there. After graduation from high school, he attended college at the University of Iowa where he met his first wife Janne Tyler. A summer job out west during college made him want to move to Big Sky Country, and in 1950 an overnight stop in Missoula gave him the opportunity to check out the University of Montana Law School, where he was accepted after an interview with the dean. After graduating from UM Law in 1953, he worked for the Public Service Commission until 1957, the Montana Motor Transport Association, then as a lobbyist for the Petroleum Association for four legislative sessions in the late fifties and early sixties. These were the days of “watering holes” where lobbyists created relationships with legislators by getting to know them, and Jim had stories to tell. He returned to Helena in 1965, serving as the administrative assistant to Governor Tim Babcock until 1969 when he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney and moved to Butte.

He and Janne raised a family of five children in Billings but were divorced in 1970.

Also in 1970, Jim married his second wife Betty Wilcox. Jim’s work as a lawyer for Occidental Petroleum relocated them to Washington D.C. and then Tripoli, Libya. After sailing a boat from the south of France to Corfu, Greece, they spent several vacations exploring the Ionian Islands. London was home next, followed by Scotland, and then Guangzhou, China before a final stop in Bakersfield, California. He once said he preferred the work in Libya over other Occidental locations because of the opportunity to do actual work in the oil fields, in contrast to the London office where they mostly played gin rummy.

After Jim retired in 1985 they built a home on the Bitterroot River, and except for a five-year residency in Arizona, called western Montana home.

After Betty passed away in 2010, Jim met his last companion, Rosemarie Neuman, while taking guitar lessons from her. They shared over six years together, traveling to Switzerland, New Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. Jim tried to improve his guitar playing skills but preferred to listen to Rose sing. The family will be forever grateful for her loving companionship with our father during these last couple of years.

Jim had many interests which usually involved the acquisition of tools or nifty gizmos. He collected a variety of cameras, which led to a black and white darkroom and portraits of his children. He enjoyed hunting, which evolved into reloading equipment and specialty rifles for competitive shooting. A childhood love of fishing not only lured him to Montana but also to fly-tying and river rafting. After retirement, he needed a tractor for the apple orchard he planted, and a woodshop to build things. Jim loved the people and the open spaces of Montana. He loved his trucks, his dogs, his friends and his politics. He loved to read newspapers and books, and meeting his old buddies for coffee at Curley’s. He read voraciously and remembered history well. He had stories to tell about lobbying, and hunting camps, and writing oil leases in the Libyan desert, and a few about Watergate. It was our loss that the cruelty of dementia conquered his memories.

After this fortunate and bountiful life, Jim passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 30 while residing at Beehive Homes in Missoula. We are extremely thankful for the wonderful care he received while in Aspen House, as well as the tremendous support offered by the Hospice of Missoula team.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife Janne, and his second wife Betty. He is survived by his older sister Kathleen Banks of Santa Fe; his companion Rosemarie Neuman of Stevensville; his children Tom (Vicki) Patten, Andy (Judy) Patten, Katie (Leonard) Tinnell, John (Liz) Patten, Bill (Carol) Patten; and step daughter Kim Skufka, along with 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family is planning a private gathering at a later date.