Patricia “Pat” Rhea of Hermiston passed away in Hermiston on Oct. 20, 2022 at the age of 96.
She was born on Oct. 5, 1926 in Caldwell, Idaho to Lewis and Minnie Scott Brown.
Pat moved to Stanfield with her family when she was a child. She attended schools in Stanfield and graduated from Stanfield High School in the class of 1944. She met Robert “Bob” Rhea while in high school. The couple dated while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his honorable discharge, the couple were united in marriage on Nov. 27, 1948 in Pendleton.
Pat worked at US National Bank (currently US Bank) in Hermiston for 36 years. She retired from the bank in the late 1980s. She and her husband Bob also owned and operated a small cattle ranch on Butter Creek for several years. They later operated a bigger farm in Stanfield for many years. In her late 70s, the couple moved to a property they owned in Ukiah for five years before returning to Hermiston.
Pat loved the outdoors, gardening, horseback riding and helping on the farms the family operated. Family was very important to Pat and she cherished her time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by a son, Curt (Sherry) Rhea; daughter, Terry (Rod) Monkus; grandchildren, Brady Monkus, Ron Monkus, Lisa Monkus-Logan and Amy Duymazlar; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Rhea on Nov. 14, 2020. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, William “Bill” Brown; and a nephew, David Brown.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 at Pleasant View Cemetery near Stanfield.
Family suggests memorial donations in Pat’s memory be made to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston, Ore., 97838.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
