Pamela Jane West, 62, passed away peacefully at her home in her bed on November 20, 2022.
It is believed it was caused by carrying her oxygen tank up the long flight of stairs to her
bedroom which made her heart give out.
She told her kids that she really didn't want much of a funeral. Just a small service. Maybe the
priest and the mortuary people. Too bad for her! She is loved by so many and some dying
wishes just cannot be kept.
She left behind a lot of stuff for her daughter and sons, who have no idea what to do with it. So
if you're looking for 1 medium-ish TV with only 1 channel (FOX news), 6 remotes for the 1 TV, a
fridge with her meals on wheels, Pepsi, and some Jimmy Dean sausage and egg sandwiches,
then this is your lucky day! She also has a cool hot pink bench walker seat thing, one of the
original air fryers (pretty sure she was just trying to look cool and follow the crowd because we
know she didn't use it much). Best of all, she left behind many nicotine-addicted plants so if
you smoke, these plants would love you. You should wait the appropriate amount of time and
get in touch. (Tomorrow would be fine.)
This is not an ad for a pawn shop, but an obituary for a great Woman, Mother, Aunt, and
Grandmother who was born on March 9, 1960, in Plentywood, MT. Her Mom Jane had to travel
18 miles away "most likely riding their family horse named Flicka" to deliver Pam because the
town of Outlook, MT, or by definition the village where they raised their 7 children, was located
18 miles from the nearest hospital. We promise this village exists just Google it. Definitely took
a village to raise those kids.
She leaves behind what we would call a fun-loving family (others may say dysfunctional) that
loves Jesus a whole lot. This is probably due to her making her children wake up early and
head to the 6 am mass and rarely taking the night off from reciting the rosary (which she was
very proud of) and continual prayers. Pam was world-renowned for her lack of patience, not
holding back her opinion of politics and her knack for telling it like it is. She always told you the
truth even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear.
It was the school of hard knocks and yes we were told many times how she had to walk for
miles in a blizzard (uphill both ways) to get to school, "so suck it up". With that said, she was
genuine and a giver to many. Even when she barely had two pennies to rub together, this never
stopped her from giving to others in need. Whenever she tried to sugarcoat things a lot of her
comments were still pretty salty. She would realize this eventually and often go to confession.
Her extensive knowledge of politics was more than anyone else we knew (especially once Fox
News became a thing). Her favorite hobby was when she and her siblings would talk about the
current political rubbish. They would often start a fight and argue over absolutely nothing
because they agreed with one another. Somehow the 'discussions' always started and ended
passionately (yelling over the top of each other to make their point). The cousins would often
wonder why they yelled so much when they were agreeing. The current theory is they lost a bit
of hearing each time they would talk about politics.
She loved baking during the Christmas season and involved her kids to deliver a plate of
Christmas goodies to all the neighbors. This was her act of love, she loved baking and cooking
for many people, and our house was rarely empty. As much as she loved the Christmas
season, she loved her rock walls, refinishing old furniture, and working in the garden in the
summer times. Yes, she LOVED to weed that garden with us as her 'helpers', when child labor
was legal (so we were told). These acts of love, sacrifice, wisdom, and hard truths kept us in
line and taught us how to authentically give even when we have very little. It has given us
something to pass down to our children.
Everyone always knew where you stood with her. She liked you or she didn't, it was black or
white. As her children, we are still trying to figure out which one it was for us (we know she
loved us even when she didn't like us).
She was a master storyteller, artist, and lover of music. She would often tell us all about her life
as a child and the many different kinds of animals they had on the farm. When most people
think farm animals you think cows, chickens, horses, maybe some ducks. Oh no… not Pam, it
was deer, skunks, crows, and raccoons. We're sure there are many others. She told many
stories of her horse Flicka and she swears that her horse could count from 1-10 by tapping its
hoof on the ground. Or the sad story of the deer that got to be too big as a pet and likely ended
up on the dinner table after jumping on the company. Pam was an amazing artist, her favorite
medium was oil pastels. (If anyone has any of her original artwork, it may now be worth a lot of
money. Like many of the other famous artists who didn't become famous until they passed
away).
Pam appreciated music (that might be an understatement). This was probably one of our
fondest memory of Mom. She was the Kool-Aid Mom because she loved most genres and was
willing to listen to just about anything. The one we recall often as her favorite was Fleetwood
Mac (Landslide) this song was turned up a lot in the house. Whether it was a day she was sad
and lonely or a day to celebrate and start cleaning the whole house, this was her #1 song of
choice. We recall lots of different music from Dixieland Jazz, Rap such as 2Pac (Dear Mama),
Country like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill with a splash of Simon and Garfunkel,
and a bit of Heart. She loved to dance and sing as loud as she could, this was always her
happy place. Unless she was teaching you the jitterbug, then she was only happy if she was
leading, even if her sons could throw her around.
She will be sorely missed and survived by her Siblings: Don (Teresa) West, Bob (Shirley) West,
Rita West, Nici (Bob) Wallis, and Jim (Cindy) West. Children: Benny (Julie) West, Desiree
(Cooper) McCann, and Dustin Hanson. Grandchildren: Felicia Downs, Ella Wetzel, Vanessa
West, Jonah West, Maurice West, Isabella McCann, Lincoln West, Elliott McCann, and Isaac
McCann (encourage Dustin to get working on more grandchildren LOL).
She was preceded in death by her loving parents: Maurice Anthony and Janette Marie West,
her brother Tim West, her nephew Pat West and her grandson Tristen McCann, and countless
beloved pets Flicka, Scooby and probably Fee, Fi, Fo, and Thumb.
All who loved her dearly will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, grace, and undying love and
care for them. She loved well and what we should never forget is her faith. Pam fought hard
and mighty during this disease and never blamed the Lord for it. She truly lived out the last
years of her life giving glory and honor to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit along with a
fervent devotion to the most blessed Virgin Mary.
In lieu of flowers please donate in Memory of Pamela West to New Hope Clinic. You can reach
them at info@newhopemontana.org or you can mail a donation to 320 S. Idaho St, Butte, MT
59701
P.S. If you're ever feeling down and out, alone or afraid, anxious or overwhelmed please
consider asking Pam to bring your prayers before the Lord. I (Benny) know from her witness
that she has a special place in His heart, and I'm sure she would be pretty ticked off if we
didn't tell her what to do a few more times (with love of course)