Pat Harrington passed away surrounded by her family at her beloved home of 54 years on Excelsior Street on March 6, 2024. Born on June 11, 1942, in Kalispell to Bill and Pete Gallagher, the second of four girls, Pat spent her first four years living at the Flathead Mine where her father worked as an assayer. The family then moved to Butte and eventually settled on Lewishon Street – where the Gallagher Girls made their mark. Pat attended the Immaculate Conception grade school (Go IC Indians!!!) and graduated from Girls Central High School in 1960.
Shortly after high school, while working on the John F. Kennedy campaign, she met her future husband of 52 years, Dan W. Harrington. They met while stuck in the elevator at the Finlen hotel. From that day forward they began a life full of love, laughs, politics, family, and friends. She was very involved in the Young Democrats and worked alongside Dan on several campaigns.
Pat and Dan’s life was enhanced greatly with the birth of their three children Kathleen, Dan and Kevin. They spent the next couple decades raising kids, attending sporting events and living life to the fullest. Nothing meant more to them than when the grandkids came along. They were the light of their lives. Pat and Dan had their basketball team and their princess with Bryce, Tyler, Daniel, Henry, Megan and Ryan. The grandkids filled her life with absolute joy and once again they were attending basketball, football, baseball games and dance recitals. Family get togethers were chaotic but priceless. Pat enjoyed several special trips with her kids and grandkids with trips to Disney, Hawaii, Notre Dame football games and the beloved family camping trips. She was an avid Grizzly fan and spent many Saturdays with the entire family cheering on the Griz.
Her best friends since the beginning of time were her sisters – Mitts, Boo and Nicey. They had a lifetime of adventures. They were always up to something whether it was legal or not. Pat even had a warrant for her arrest after all three of the sisters got a ticket for 4-wheeling where they shouldn’t have been and she refused to pay hers. They were well known for their “Sisters Dance” that occurred at every family event –joined by Connie, Shovie and Bobbi as honorary sisters.
One thing about Pat is she always looked like a million bucks. Whether she was working, camping, or 4-wheeling, she was always styling. Mitz remarked “she was one classy lady and always looked like she came out of a band box”.
Pat had many special friends and prior to Covid had a very busy social schedule with weekly dates with the “Breakfast Gang”, dinners with the “Lady Bugs” Cathy and Gayle, and special times with best work buddies JoAnn, Bev and Maria. She was always ready for an adventure. She loved the outdoors and spent as much time as possible 4-wheeling with her sisters, camping, road trips in the Mustang and boating at the lake. Spontaneous road trips with the gang occurred regularly. Everything turned into an adventure – sometimes much to her children’s dismay. She kept a tent and sleeping bag in her trunk just in case someone wanted to go camping. Her favorite saying was “lets hit the Mickey road”. She had adventures to last a lifetime and made so many great memories for so many people. One of the best memories for family and friends was her annual 3rd of July party. It wasn’t for the faint at heart and you took your life in your own hands if you dared to stand on the corner of Excelsior and Zarelda.
She spent over thirty years working as a manager in the catering industry at various locations in town. Her reputation proceeded her, and her work ethic was unmatched. She had a special gift of making every event extra special whether it was wedding, shower, after funeral, Christmas party or “just because” parties. She excelled at parties to plan parties. She gave 110 percent to every client she ever worked with and people from all over sought her advice and expertise. She was an excellent manager and many of the “kids” she worked with have mentioned over the years what a difference she made in their lives. She loved them like her own.
She was preceded in death by her parents William and Pete Gallagher; her husband Daniel Harrington, sister Janice Bettini, her in-laws Dennis and Nora Harrington, nephew Marty Daily and niece Becky Sprunger. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Charles) Coleman, Dan (Shannon) Harrington, Kevin (Tricia) Harrington; Grandchildren Megan and Ryan Coleman, Daniel and Henry Harrington, and Bryce and Tyler Harrington; Sisters Mitzi (Jim) Daily, and Billie (Dan) Shovlin. Nieces and Nephews Bill (Mary Ellen) Daily, Bob (Leighanne) Daily, Beth (Greg) Shaw, Jamee (Matt) Mazuryk, Heather (Mike) Matteson, Sam (Ann) Luoma, Kate (Robbie) Farnes, Jim Sprunger, Terri Daily, Chris and Kim Bettini and numerous great and great, great nieces and nephews.
She did it her way…
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 30, 2024, at noon at the Front Street Station, 800 E Front St, in Butte. Family will begin receiving friends at 11:00 a.m. Luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Butte Emergency Food Bank, 1019 E. 2nd Street, Butte, MT, 406 782 3814, thebuttefoodbank.org or charitable donations of your choice.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence to share a memory of Pat.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
11:00 a.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 East Front St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Celebration of Life
12:00 p.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 East Front St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Luncheon
Following the celebration of life
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 E Front Street
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
11:00 a.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 East Front St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Celebration of Life
12:00 p.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 East Front St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Luncheon
Following the celebration of life
Saturday March 30, 2024
Front Street Station
800 E Front Street
Butte, Montana 59701
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Heather, Ray & Family says
Dear Kathleen, Danny, Kevin and families. Your mom was the dearest lady. She was so so kind to all of our family especially Travis. Travis was always at the Harrington house and treated like one of the family. Your mom and dad welcomed Travis all the time. RIP dear Pat. Dan will be at heavens door waiting for you. God Bless you all.
Fritz Daily says
My condolences to Kathleen, Dan, and Kevin and your families, and to Mitzi, Boo and their families. God bless Fritz Daily
The Johnsons says
I was saddened to read of Patsy’s passing. She was kind-hearted, friendly, respectful, and elegant. I know she will be missed by all who were fortunate to know her. I know she will be remembered by friends and family by the smiles on their faces when they are thinking of her.
Julie and Mike DalSoglio says
Dear Kathy, JD, Kevin and families. Pat was such a great woman, wife, mother. She will be missed. Hugs to all of you.
Melissa Raymond says
I miss her so much already & I am so honored that I was able to get to know Pat as well as I did, she was such an amazing woman & so special to me. I will never forget the memories her & I shared together. I was very blessed to get to have her be a part of my life & she got to know my children & husband as well. Holding her hand until the very end was a pure blessing & I thank everyone of her children for allowing me to do that & including me in everything when it came to her final days. I love you Pat & I will miss you for always, you’ll always be my favorite pain in the azz! Love Melissa Raymond