"Pat" Mauch

William Patrick "Pat" Mauch, 76, of Kingman, AZ, formerly of Ekalaka, MT, passed away on December 23, 2023. A memorial will be held on July 6 in Ekalaka, Montana.

Pat was born on a ranch near Saco, Montana to Hazel (nee Galvin) and Ray Mauch. These early years instilled the grit, humor, work ethic, and love of people and nature that would guide him throughout his life.

He studied mathematics at the College of Great Falls where he met his wife, Beth Brawner and became a high school teacher with memorable tenures in Box Elder and Ekalaka before moving to California to finish his career at Victor Valley Community College. Beth and Pat retired to Kingman, Arizona, where he returned to his ranching roots with a backyard menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, and wildlife that wandered through. Pat liked to call it his “one acre Ponderosa”.

He was a master storyteller, joke teller, and story-that-turned-out-to-be-a-joke teller. Pat beat polio at age five, a major coronary at thirty nine, and triumphed over so many health challenges during the last thirty seven years that it seemed he might be able to cheat death itself. How lucky we were to have him as long as we did! Pat loved animals, playing pool and cards, reading, and photography; but most of all he loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. After a lifetime of winning every hand, he will rest easy and be remembered always.

Pat was preceded in death by his infant brothers Ray and Daniel Joseph. He is survived by his siblings Tim Mauch, Mike Mauch, and Mickey Moore; his wife Beth, his children Lisa (Rafael) Miranda, Sean (Kathy) Mauch, Tim (Shirley) Mauch, Dan Mauch, and Bethanne (Brandon) Feller; and grandchildren Willow, Jackson, Mina, Riley, Ethan, Evan, Hazen, Otto, and Quynn; as well as “cousins by the dozens” in the Galvin clan.