The Mother of Patty Felt Passes Away

Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to Patty Felt, whose mother passed away July 12 (http://rudesfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/RudesF1/obit.cgi?user=1358167Felt).

The Felt family lived a couple of miles north of town.  My guess is that Patty attended country school through 8th grade, as there are no pictures of her in the yearbooks until our freshman year (my collection is missing the 1965 annual, when we were in 8th grade, so I could be wrong).  Her path and mine seldom crossed.  She was very active in the fine arts, while I lacked any aptitude in those areas.  She also had some older siblings who were in the same classes as my older brothers.  If memory serves correctly, her older Jim, class of 1962(?), was a very gifted and talented student/scholar. 

In 9th grade, she is pictured with the chorus members.  In our sophomore year, she was a member of the student council, Future Homemakers of America, and Girls' Glee club.  In our first year at the new high school, she had a prominent in the musical "Oklahoma," playing Ado Annie.  Her musical abilities were beginning to shine, as she sung her way into Select Chorus, and L'Allegro.  She also continued with her membership in Future Homemakers.  Her musical talent really blossomed our senior year.  In addition to her Select Chorus and L"Allegro, she was in Mixed Chorus, and was selected as a member for All-state Chorus.  Fifteen other BHS students were chosen for his honor, eight of whom were Patty's classmates (Peggy Bush, Helen Sheimo, Pat Collins, Peggy Christie, Patsy McKeown, Steve Miller, Eugene Mueller, and Walter Osterberg).   She also had a major role in the Arthur Miller play "All My Sons."  The annual did not display a group picture for a number of clubs, such as FFA, FHA, FTA, FNA, Spanish Club, German Club, etc.

Patty's younger sister Janet married Tim Fergen, and they have lived right next door to the south of Patty's parents for a number of years.  Tim is a very skilled builder, both of buildings and of cars.  He has built a number of houses and garages in the area, including a massive garage for my brother.  It had to be approved by the city council because it was too large for the lot size.  He also enlarged Nick's Hamburger Shop when his older brother Dick purchased it from Duane Larson of our class.  Main Barbershop, which was next door to Nick's, was about the same size as the hamburger shop, rather long and narrow.  Tim removed most of the wall separating the buildings, doubling the counter space for the well-known eating establishment.  Tim is well-respected as a car buff, and is presently restoring a 1939(?) Chevy pick-up that has been in the Felt family for years. 

Again, our thoughts and prayers go out to Patty during this difficult time.  Feel free to visit the website for Rude's funeral  home above and perhaps sign the guestbook.  I was able to talk with Patty briefly at the visitation.  Some messages of condolence from her close high school friends may ease the pain of the present moment.