Milton Wilding Patterson

Milton Wilding Patterson, 95, returned to the loving arms of his Father in Heaven on December 26, 2022, in Clifton, ID surrounded by the love of his life, his wife Elaine, and family members after a fall resulting in a fractured hip on Dec. 24, 2022.     He was born on September 24, 1927, in Salt Lake City, UT, the son of Charles Elmer Patterson and Leoni Leoti Wilding.

Milton was the 8^th of eleven children. He spent most of his childhood growing up in the Salt Lake Valley. He attended Granite High School prior to joining the Navy where he earned his GED.  He attended Cooks & Bakers School and was a baker in the Navy from 1945-1947. When he was discharged from the Navy in 1947, he and a friend bought horses in San Diego, CA and headed out on the 800-mile trip home to Sandy, UT. His friend made it as far as Las Vegas, NV where he then bought a bus ticket home. Milton bought his friends horse to use as a pack horse and rode the rest of the way home by himself, arriving just before Christmas.

After serving in the Navy, he married Shirley Jane Severinsen in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 23, 1949. Together they had four daughters and one son. They later divorced in 1965. He then married Bonnie Francis Boan on April 29, 1966, and together they had one daughter. They divorced in 1970. He then married the love of his life, Elaine Denison Laws, on August 10, 1971, in Elko, NV and their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple on Dec. 1, 1979. They lived in many places throughout their lives together starting in Draper, UT, then to Torrey, UT and finally settling in Eureka, NV on their ranch for 21 years. After leaving Eureka they lived in Wales, UT; Spring Creek, NV; Tooele, UT, and for the last 2 years in Clifton, ID.

Milton was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held many callings including, Elders Quorum President, Boy Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, and home teacher. He also held many different jobs throughout his life. He was a mechanic, welder, bus driver, sheriff deputy, a service manager for Rick Warner Ford, he was a jack of all trades. He also loved building and gardening. You could always find him out tilling or shoveling in his beautiful gardens.

Milton was raised in a large loving family, and they all stayed close throughout the years. After his marriage to Elaine, her six children were added to his six children making a large and loving family. His family was and remained his priority throughout his whole life. He taught his family what unconditional love was, and he emulated that love every day of his life. Milton loved and adored his entire family and spending time with them. He looked forward every year to the annual Laws/Patterson Family Reunion where friends and family would come from near and far to see their beloved “Gramps and Granny”.

Milton is survived by his wife, Elaine; by seven daughters and two sons, Barbara Perry of Payson, UT; Jean (David) Henson of Richmond, UT; Marvin (Jill) Laws of Sandy, UT; Teresa (Dennis) Wood of Clifton, ID; Becky (Craig) Smith of Lewiston, UT; Carol (Reggy) Ellingsworth of Tooele, UT; Beaver (Lori) Laws of Spring Creek, NV; Linda (David) Stott of Spring Creek, NV; Nila (Bruce) Copen of Bonners Ferry, ID; by 89 grandchildren, 240 great-grandchildren, 48 great great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Milton in preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, George, Thomas, David and Alvin; by six sisters, Alice, Roberta, Mabel, Clara, Mary, and Elva; a son, Milton Lynn (Donetta) Patterson; a daughter, Cynthia Laws (Tony) Habinc, and by a daughter, Donna Jane (Joe) Danielson. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Boren, granddaughter-in-law, Kelly Boren and their children,  Jaden Boren and Hailey (Hailey Bug) Boren and a granddaughter, Emily Scarpino.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm at the Clifton 2^nd Ward Chapel, 170 West 100 N. Clifton, Idaho 83228. The services may be viewed at a later date by clicking on the following link:

https://youtu.be/PwpuNLGVips

A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:30-11:30 am. Interment and military rites will at the Clifton Idaho Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com