Anna Else Patterson

Anna Else Patterson, 88, of Livingston, MT passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 16, 2023.

Anna was born in Frankenthal, Germany on November 7, 1934, to Wilhelm and Anna Maria Burgard.  She had a difficult childhood, having to move to many places due to the war. When she was in her 20’s she worked at clubs that were frequented by American soldiers.  She was a server and a singer. She longed to take her kids to America for a better life. In 1960 she was able to come to America. She got a job as a waitress and eventually came to Livingston.

Anna met Bill Patterson and they were married. Soon after the marriage she went back to Germany to get her sons, Rudi and Peter.  She brought them back to America in 1963.  In 1964 Anna had her third son, James.

Anna was heavily involved in choir and theater and won several awards in knitting.  She was also a fantastic fly tyer at Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop. She tied flies for Sandra Day O’Connor. She was also in the movie Rancho Deluxe. Anna was always on the go, doing something. She was loved by many!

Anna was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her sisters Marga Wunder and Paula Jell, step-son Bruce Patterson, nephews Wolfgang and Rienholdt Wunder, niece Heidi, and a granddaughter, Sara Patterson.

She is survived by her brother Willi (Inga) Burgard, sons; Rudi (Kris), Peter(Laura) and Jim (Bethany), Grandchildren; Brandon, Andrew, Jared, John and Annie, several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and one great granddaughter.

Services will be held Friday, June 23, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Holbrook United Methodist Church. A luncheon will follow at the church.