Obituary: Stenson, Patricia Louise
Age 63
She spent her final days at home surrounded by family and friends.
Pat was born April 21, 1951 in Coulee Dam, WA.
the daughter of Henry William Henke and Marie Elizabeth (Meyer) Henke.
Pat attended school in Coulee Dam, WA., and when she was just 16 she met her husband to be, Stephen C. Stenson, at a dance at the Coulee Dam City Hall.
It was love at first sight and they were married August 30th, 1969 in Coulee Dam.
After the wedding Steve moved Pat to the “big” city of Spokane.
Life in Spokane started in an apartment but shortly Pat discovered she was pregnant with their first daughter (Jennifer born September 8, 1971) and Steve was offered a free brittany puppy if he had a place to keep it.
A house was found in north Spokane that would accommodate a family as well as a puppy and the marriage survived the trials of those learning times.
Shortly before the birth of their second daughter (Erin born March 23, 1975) Pat and Steve moved to a larger home in the Newman Lake district.
After several years it was time to move one more time to West Valley where they completed raising their daughters and resided ever since.
In 1977, Pat went to work for the Spokane Regional Heath District where she worked in a variety of positions over the span of a 30 year career.
Pat was a loyal and dedicated employee.
She made many lasting friends during her years at the health district some of whom remained her best friends to the end.
Pat retired from the Health District in 2007 and her new “job” after retirement was flying to Portland every week for the first year to babysit her first grandchild.
We were subsequently blessed with two more grandchildren and she was so proud to be a grandmother and teach them everything she could.
In addition to being a kind, gentle and loving wife, mother and grandmother Pat was an extraordinary quilter.
There are many family and friends who are recipients of her outstanding creations.
Even in her final days, with the help of her sister DeeAnn, she insisted on giving away more quilts to friends she might have forgotten.
Pat also loved to travel and camp with her children and grandchildren whether it be to Pend Oreille Lake or our place in Wyoming.
Throughout her life, Pat was always thinking of others first.
Everyone that met Pat liked her and she went out of her way to try to make life better for all those around her.
She will be so greatly missed by those she leaves behind.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jim Henke, her sister Maryann McNeilly and her niece Jeanne Alfano.
Pat is survived by her husband of 45 years, Stephen Stenson; daughter Jennifer Stenson; daughter Erin (Matt) Billings, grandson Hugo Knight; grandson Isaac Billings; grandson Eli Billings; brother Jerry Henke; brother Larry (Sue) Henke; sister DeeAnn (Tom) Fuchs and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to sincerely thank Hospice of Spokane for their caring services.
Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to Hospice of Spokane, P. O.
Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 or the American Cancer Society.
A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA.
at 1:00 P.M. Friday, April 10th, 2015.