Linda (Lynda) Diane Patterson Forcella
September 28, 1948 - September 16, 2024
Linda (Lynda) Diane Patterson Forcella, 76, of Billings, formerly of Sidney, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Elko, Nevada. She was born on Aug. 28, 1948, in Los Angeles.
She worked as a cashier/receptionist at Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric. Lynda attended Highland Senior High in Pocatello, Idaho, but graduated from Butte High School in Butte. She also studied for three years at the University of Montana. She was a member of Beta, PEO, Red Hats, PEO Book Club and Pinnacle Club.
Her hobbies included reading, spending time with family and friends, and going out to eat. Her guilty pleasure was eating carrot cake. She loved watching old black and white movies, doing crossword puzzles, and loved watching game shows. She enjoyed collecting carnival class and antiques.
Lynda was Valentine Queen and Women of the Year for Beta numerous times, the most recent being 2023 and she celebrated her Golden Ritual (50 years) with Beta in 2021.
Lynda and Rick were married in 1970 at St. Johns the Evangelist in Butte, and moved to Sidney in 1971. They lived in Sidney for 40 years, where they raised their family. Lynda retired in 2005 and they moved to Billings in 2011. Lynda loved her family very much and her grandchildren were her world. Her friends were numerous and, even though she may not have been able to do the things she used to, she loved connecting with friends on Facebook and staying connected by phone calls.
She was predeceased by parents Bernard and Mary Patterson (Dillon); birth mother Dona Martin (Visalia, California); in-laws Frank and Rita Forcella (Butte); brother Duane Frazier (Lima, Montana); and half-sister Marthe Rucks-Perry (Norman, Oklahoma).
Survivors include daughters Monica (Carl) Stevenson (Elko, Nevada), Mara (Aaron) Beard (Huntley); and grandchildren RaeLynn (Alyssa) Forcella (Vancouver, Washington), and Kooper and Elle Beard (Huntley). She is also survived by cousins, a niece and two nephews and their children. For those who did not know, Lynda had another child, Teri Waldenberg (Hawaii), whom she had reconnected with almost 27 years ago. Teri has a daughter, Kaylee (Nolan) Taylor (Great Falls) and two grandchildren, Dexter and Daphne (Great Falls).
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. There will be refreshments to follow after the memorial service. Cremation has taken place in Elko, Nevada. Lynda's husband of 53 years passed away in February 2024 and Lynda's daughters will lay them both to rest together in Dillon, Montana, in the summer of 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lady of the Rockies in Butte.
Condolences may be left for the family at MichelottiSawyers.com .
