Patricia "Patty" Kruse

Patricia Kaye (Connett) Kruse passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the home north of Priest River on Gunsmoke Lane. She was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on September 13, 1943 to Pat and Evelyn Connett. Her early childhood years were on a farm south of Sandpoint where she attended a rural two room school house at Careywood, Idaho. Then her family moved to Sandpoint where she continued her education. Patricia liked the outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing. She was an excellent swimmer and loved being at the lake. Her hobbies included sewing and reading. She cared about the well-being of animals. Her pet dogs gave her a great deal of enjoyment throughout her life. She loved her dogs and they loved her right back. She was a fun loving person and got a kick out of sharing stories or jokes to make others laugh. Her smile and laugh would light up a room. Pat’s family remembers her sewing clothes for them to wear to school and making animal shaped pancakes for breakfast. She was a good cook and her kids thought she made the best spaghetti, Thanksgiving dinners and pumpkin cookies. Whenever possible she liked to accompany her kids on school field trips. They were happy to have mom join them. According to her family, Pat was very intelligent and a quick learner. She was employed many years in the Spokane area. Pat was ambitious and had a good work ethic whatever the task was. Patricia is survived by her husband Ron Kruse, her children Chris Goding of Puyallup, WA, Debbie (Eric) Connor of Centralia, WA, Brenda (Marvin) Dyk of Spokane, WA, Richard (Susan) Goding of Lake Havasu, AZ, Barbara Nell of Everett, WA and Devin (Zenia) Cable of Rio Rancho, NM and stepsons Ron (Brook) Kruse of Priest River, and Ross (Carol) Kruse of Salem, OR. She is also survived by her sister Donna Ham of Kennewick, WA and grandchildren Crystal Hiebert, Taylor Dyk, Alexa Cable, Ashley Szolomeyer, and 3 great-grandchildren. Patricia was preceded in death by a son Todd Goding and her parents Pat and Evelyn Connett. Even though Patricia will be missed by her family they know she has gone to a place of peace and rest to a family reunion with those who have preceded her in death. A memorial service is scheduled for family and friends at 2:00pm Friday, April 29 at Coffelt’s Funeral home in Sandpoint, Idaho.