Patsy "Pat" Ruth Deines

Patsy "Pat” Ruth Deines passed away May 10, 2012 at Hospice of Northern Colorado. She was born in Wray, CO November 29, 1931, the daughter of Charles and Beatrice (Adams) Pickett. To that union was born Pat and Norma. After Beatrice’s death in 1935 Charles married Doris Sherman in June of 1938. To that union was born Gary and Linda. During the WWII years the family moved to California and remained there until the summer of 1947 when the family returned to Laird, CO. Pat graduated from Laird High School in 1949 and thereafter married John Deines on May 22, 1949. In January 1950 the couple moved to Fort Lupton, CO where Pat was a devoted wife and mother. The family moved to the Greeley area in 1959 where John worked for McCoy Caterpillar as a field service representative. In the fall of 1973 John and Pat moved to Tontitown, AR where they built a home on a small acreage. In the spring of 1978 they returned to Colorado. John passed away in January 1986 after a five year battle with heart disease. Pat began her career with State Farm Insurance in Greeley in 1968, holding numerous secretarial positions in Personnel, Claims (Fayetteville, AR) Executive, Legal Counsel, and Administrative Services before retiring in June 1994. After retirement, Pat traveled to Europe four times and began 10 years of volunteer work with the Assistance League of Greeley, serving as Treasurer and Finance Chairman. Pat was an active member of the First United Methodist church, serving on numerous committees and visiting nursing homes with her friend Merle Smith from 1995 through 2009. The friendships gained during these years of volunteerism resulted in friendships that continued throughout her life. Her passion was her family and her friends. She enjoyed family trips to the Poudre Canyon while she and John were raising their children. She also enjoyed knitting, cross-stitching, bowling, crossword puzzles and card games. She took great joy in attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, plays, concerts, graduations, and weddings. In later years she enjoyed daily walks with friends and gambling trips to Blackhawk with her brother-in-law and companion, Ralph Deines. Pat is survived by her children, Lynn (Bill) Hatch of Windsor, CO, Debra (Mike) Bonkiewicz of New Castle, CO; grandchildren, Emily (Justin) Paul, Todd Hatch, Julie (Zach) Pinkerton, Christina (Jerod) Cronquist, and Laura Bonkiewicz; step mother, Doris Pickett; sisters, Norma (Ernest) Deines, Linda (Lee) Ragains; brother, Gary (Pat) Pickett; her husband’s siblings, Maxine Smith, Bonnie Lund, Glen (Nancy) Deines, Edna (Dwayne) Pilkington, Ralph Deines, Ernest (Norma) Deines; and her beloved miniature Schnauzer, Mandie. She is preceded in death by her husband; infant son, Douglas Allen Deines; parents; brothers-in-law, Clarion Smith, Clyde Lund; and sister-in-law, Fern Deines. Visitation will be Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 3 - 5 p.m. at Adamson Chapel. Celebration of Life Service 11 a.m. Monday, May 14, 2012 at First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Avenue, Greeley. Inurnment at Mizpah Cemetery in Platteville. Memorial Contributions may be made to "First United Methodist Church” or "Hospice of Northern Colorado” in care of Adamson Funeral Home, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634.