Patricia Mae Alden-Hedeen

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ? Patricia Mae Alden-Hedeen died Oct. 10, 2005, in Charleston.

Pat was born in Butte, Mont., on Jan. 12, 1940, to Eldon "Pop" and LaVera Alden. She grew up in Butte and attended Emerson and Butte High Schools. After graduating from high school, she lived with her sister, Lila, in California for a short time. When she returned to Butte, she worked in Safeway's corporate offices in Butte.

In 1961, she married Ronald Gardner and moved to Great Falls, Mont. They later divorced.

In Great Falls, Pat began working for Mountain Bell Telephone Co. When the company split, she became an employee of AT&T. Her position of Operator Manager took her to Billings.

In 1990, Pat and her daughter Rhonda were flown to New York City, where Pat was presented with AT&T's National Award for Spirit of Communication for Outstanding Contributions to Consumer Services. In 1992, she moved on to Charleston. She retired from AT&T in 1997.

While still in Great Falls, Pat married Robert Hedeen. They later divorced.

Pat had an avid love of reading, especially poetry. She was a poet in her own right. They poem most special to our family was titled "The Reunion," which was inspired by our family reunion in 1996.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents; brother Franklin; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Dorothy; and sister Iona Alden.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Carol Gardner of Bremerton, Wash.; daughter Rhonda Gardner-Potts of Charleston; stepsons John, Keith and Chuck Hedeen; grandchildren Rebecca, Kimberly and Cameron Gardner of Bremerton; step-grandchildren Jesse, Jeremiah and Jonah Hedeen; brother and sister-in-law Richard and Florence Alden of Billings; sisters Lila Alden-Harter of Irving, Calif., and Linda Alden-Williams of Kalispell, Mont.; sister and brother-in-law Sue (Alden) and Bill Wehrle of Butte; step-great-grandson Gavin Hedeen of Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pat's remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte, where friends may call beginning Thursday, Oct. 20, at noon. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.