Len Patterson

Len Eldon Patterson, 54 of Columbia Falls, passed away Jan. 27, 2012, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula of complications following heart surgery.

Len was born Dec. 15, 1957, in Whitefish to Bob and Betty Patterson. He grew up in the north valley, attending schools in Whitefish and graduating from Whitefish High School in 1976.

Len was very involved in high school athletics, participating as a varsity member of the football team, basketball team and the track team. He was also a member of the high school rodeo team.

On Aug. 7, 1982, he married Cindy Stewart, of Bigfork, and on Oct. 20, 1989, their son Clayton was born.

Len was employed with various companies in the logging industry and spent 20 years with Plum Creek Timber Co., from which he retired in 2007. He started Patterson Ranch Construction in 2007 and worked in the construction industry until the fall of 2011.

Hunting and fishing were two of his favorite pastimes, and his hunting trips with his family and friends in the fall were his favorite. He was an accomplished team roper, competing on the Northern Rodeo Association circuit.

Being an avid fan of the Columbia Falls MatCats wrestling team and Wildcat basketball team, he could always be found in the bleachers enthusiastically encouraging the kids. He enjoyed watching sports.

Len was a competitive sporting clays shooter, a multi-class state champion who attended the National Sporting Clays championship in Texas in October. He was a Level 1 shotgun instructor and coached the Pheasants Forever Ringneck Youth Shooters for 10 years.

Len is survived by his wife Cindy and son Clayton; his mother Betty Schultz; brothers Lew and Lee; and sisters Lita and Lona and their families.

Services will be held at the Christian Center, in Kalispell, on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Len's memorial fund at Park Side Federal Credit Union for the benefit of the MatCats wrestling program and the Pheasants Forever Youth Shooting program.