Perpetua Staudinger

Perpetua “Patty” Staudinger Look out, George! Here she comes!! Our beloved and talented mother, Perpetua "Patty" Staudinger died peacefully on Thursday, June 9, 2016. She was born to George and Frances (Wandler) Steiner on a farm outside of Mott, North Dakota on March 2, 1926. After moving off the farm at 18, she was a waitress in Glendive, MT for the Northern Pacific Railroad and eventually found her way to Billings, working at The Beanery. She met George Valentine Staudinger at a wedding reception in Richardton, ND and they were married at the Assumption Abbey in Richardton on Sept 22, 1948. They lived in Glendive where three children were born to them then moved to Billings in 1957and a fourth child was born in 1958. Patty was a stay-at-home mom but she kept very busy with her own cottage industry of sewing and doing alterations on clothing. She was an extremely talented seamstress, putting different patterns together and sewing anything that fit under her sewing machine foot. And she was a perfectionist with her sewing! She would marvel people at her ability to alter clothing to fit them so well. She even dabbled in doing upholstery with her sister Eleanor. Mom was a fabulous cook and baker. Her Bismarcks melted in your mouth, her German potato salad was unmatched, tender apple plachinda, stomach-filling kraut brot, anise-flavored/saffron-colored baska (Easter bread), flaky strudel to die for and of course 101 ways to make dumplings. Family and friends can attest that no celebration was complete at the Staudinger home without a delicious, absolutely made-from-scratch angel food cake! Mom had an unbelievable green thumb with her extraordinarily productive vegetable garden (the envy of the neighborhood), flower beds around her home and with her African violets and Christmas cactus. Four children were born to George and Patty: Gary, Greg, Gayle and Gene (AKA Corky). They struggled but made sure all four kids had college or trade school educations. She lived in her own home until the last 20 months of her life when she moved into Autumn Springs Assisted Living here in Billings. Family and friends celebrated Mom's 90th birthday with her this past March. George passed away in May 2006. Family awaiting Mom in heaven are brothers, Lee, Tony and Jake; brothers-in-law, Pete Kuntz, Tony Kathrein and Frank Osaben. Sisters who beat Mom to heaven are Rose Harmon, Helen Detwiler, Eleanor Manly, Ismarie Kuntz, Barbara Osaben, Sister Perpetua (Margaret) and Sister Frances (Kathrine); sister in law, Ruth Steiner; daughter-in-law, Danette (O'Gara) Staudinger; and grandson, Casey Staudinger. Left here to survive without homemade German food are sons, Gary (Judy) of Butte, Father Greg of Columbus, Gene “Corky” (Deanna Darnielle); daughter, Gayle (Merrill) Walker, both of Billings; sister, Frances Kathrein of Richardton; sister-in-law, Frances Steiner of Glendive; nine grandchildren, Ben (Mindy) Staudinger of Snohomish, WA, Scott (Jennifer Jo) Staudinger of Las Vegas, NV, Jeff Staudinger of Tucson, AZ; Ann (Stephen) Knoll of Brooklyn, NY, Larissa Walker of Missoula, Darci Walker and Caleb Staudinger both of Billings; Brendan (Ashleigh) Hursh of Butte, and Katie (Matthew) Crowe of Greybull, WY; eight great-grandchildren, Gabe, Nate, Matthew, Teagan, Payton, Kiera, Abby and Natalie; and many nieces and nephews. Our family's most sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Baskar Duvall and Kelly and crew at Billings Clinic for their kindness and common sense approach to caring for Mom as she got older. Thanks to RiverStone Hospice for their support to us and Mom these last few weeks. And deepest thanks goes to Doris and her staff at Autumn Springs for your affection, love and caring shown to Mom these past 1 ½+ years – you were a God-send to us and Mom!! Bless you all!! Vigil service will be held 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 19 at Dahl Funeral Chapel with Memorial Mass at 10:00 am, Monday, June 20 at Little Flower Catholic Church. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com “Two Stubborn Roosians” now reside in Heaven!!