Patricia Guth

Patricia Johnston Guth, 79, passed away on December 3rd, 2020 from pneumonia and covid19. Pat lived her life with a unique and creative flare. As an artist, she worked in a variety of mediums, especially printmaking and collage. She took poetry and art classes at the University of Montana. She had a one woman exhibit at The Women's Club. She was active in the Living Arts program after her son Brennan Guth died kayaking in Chile in 2001.
She loved exploring and collecting things on rambling walks with her dogs. Her miniature donkeys and horses were her beloved pets as well. Pat will be remembered for her love of words, color, animals, creativity, generosity, intelligence, enthusiasm, fierce feminism, and sense of adventure.
Born on April 15, 1941, Patricia Lucille Johnston grew up in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1959 and was on the Annual Staff for The Reflector Yearbook, in a dozen clubs, and on the Senior Play Committee. Voted "Prettiest Hair," the senior Prophecy imagined: "Patsy Johnston heads the Etymology Department at Iowa State."
Pat graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. She met her husband, David Guth, in college and they were married in 1965. Pat taught English, speech, and drama to high school students while earning a MA from Indiana University in Speech and Theatre. Traveling for David's military service, Pat taught English at the University of Guam for two years and spent four years in Madison, Wisconsin, before they chose to move to Missoula, Montana in 1975.
While raising her two children, Pat volunteered in a variety of roles. She was a foremother to the "soccer mom," helping create the first soccer programs in Missoula, getting soccer goals for fields, and coaching the women's high school club soccer team. Pat spearheaded parks in her neighborhood, helped teach speech in elementary school, and was recognized for more than ten years of service at the YMCA as a soccer coach and board member. Pat was also an exercise and outdoor enthusiast. She taught racquetball, played in women's & coed adult soccer leagues, ran community road races, cross country and downhill skied, kayaked, and later in life enjoyed water aerobics and yoga.
She is proceeded in death by her son, Brennan Guth (2001), and her parents, George William and Katherine Bowler Johnston. She is survived by her daughter Valerie Guth Boyd (Geoff), grandchildren Kirk and Grace Boyd, and ex-husband David Guth (divorced 1991).
A celebration of life will be held this summer in Missoula, Montana.