Dora Radakovich

Dora (Pattison) Radakovich slipped peacefully into her Lord's hands on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, with her family by her side, after a very short illness.

Family and friends will gather at Bell Mortuary, Glasgow, Mont., Thursday, Dec. 5 5 to 7 p.m. in remembrance of Dora.

Dora's funeral will be at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, at Glasgow's First Lutheran Church with a grave side service to follow at Highland Cemetery and then a luncheon at the Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m.

Dora was born on May 30, 1926, to Jacob and Amanda (Gulbranson) Pattison, the fifth of their seven children. The seven Pattison children were raised in a small two-bedroom, one bathroom home, learning much about sharing, thrift, independence and hard work.

In her high school years, Dora was fun-loving and very popular, nurturing friendships which would last a lifetime. She may have seemed a little timid, but she was adventurous, brave and a bit of a prankster.

After graduating from Glasgow High in 1944, she and her friend, Wanda, set off to Washington D.C. looking for jobs while America was in the throes of World War II. Dora was hired by the FBI as a secretary, working in a small office where she often would see J. Edgar Hoover. She would tell of August 14, 1945, when she and her office mates joined the wild VJ Day celebration in the streets of Washington D.C. She got lost in that crowd, separated from her friends, and there was no way to get a taxi home. A young woman about her age, recognizing her plight, invited Dora to stay with her until the crowd cleared, pointing to her apartment across the street. Dora remembered that young woman's kindness fondly and always regretted leaving without contact information for that Good Samaritan.

With the war over, Dora returned to Montana and enrolled at Montana State University in Missoula, Mont. A handsome Grizzly football star, who had graduated from Glasgow a few years ahead of Dora and who was a friend of her older brother Leo, surprised her by inviting her to the Foresters Ball. She thought Daniel "Bunny" Radakovich was joking, so she told him of a very popular girl who really wanted to go with him. Bunny said "I can't ask her as I already have a date." In typical Dora fashion, she asked "Who?" Bunny said "You!"

After two years of classes, Dora married Bunny on July 20, 1947, and then worked in the University library until their daughter, Linda Jo, was born. Bunny graduated in 1950 and took his first teaching job in Townsend, Mont. In 1951, Bunny and Dora brought their young family to Glasgow as he accepted a teaching and football coaching job at GHS. Two more children followed: Michael Lee in 1952 and Janice Kae in 1955. Dora was busy as a homemaker, following Bunny's teams and her children's activities, when younger daughter Jan told her she should get a job like other moms. She took that recommendation seriously and went looking for an opportunity. When she got to the County Welfare Department, Mary Ann Ketchum welcomed her as she was about to retire and knew that Dora would be perfect for the job. Dora became an eligibility technician and worked there for decades until retirement. She loved the work as it was a perfect setting for her to utilize her passion to help people.

Dora was a great mother. Dora and Bunny had a wonderful life together sharing their children's adventures, their various athletic interests, golfing together and just enjoying life. Bunny died of cancer in 1985, and she has missed him dearly every day since. They are together again.

Her family and friends were always her highest priority. For many years she and her sister, Jean, would walk every day from the far north side to visit their mother, Amanda, on the south side. Dora treasured that time with her sister and mother and was broken hearted when time took them away.

Dora loved golf and cherished her golfing friends and she was an accomplished Bridge player, enjoying both well into her 80s. Luckily, the sports and other activities of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others kept her interested and active to the very end, seldom missing a game or a performance, always showing up with her signature enthusiasm and support. In her final years at Prairie Ridge, Dora enjoyed the companionship of many close friends, earning the same admiration she had in her youth.

Dora was unwavering, in all that she did and all that she was. She was honest, humble, kindhearted, and generous to a fault, showing a keen interest in everyone she met. She was always willing to help anyone, in any way she could. She embodied the integrity, principles and character of that Greatest Generation.

Dora appreciated all of the kindnesses of her niece, Shirley Baumgartner, who came many times a week to visit, do her laundry and tend to the many things which made it easy for her to live independently.

Dora's endearing, subtle wit brought so much joy and laughter to those around her. Her lighthearted disposition was truly one of a kind. Dora said herself that she was lucky her whole life, citing the many ways she'd had good fortune, most of which had to do with her family. 98 years of luck, as she saw it. But in truth, it was all of us who were lucky to have known her.

Dora's unwavering love, kindness, and unassuming guidance will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bunny; her parents; brothers Bill, Lyman and Leo; and sisters Jean Baker and Marie Fargo.

Dora is survived by her sister, Patsy Shepard; children Linda McGowan, Mike (Cori) Radakovich and Janice (Pat) Petrone; grandchildren Dan (Sabrina) McGowan, Missy (James) Adams, Josh McGowan, Jeremy Radakovich, Ben (Tami) Radakovich, Collin (Jordan) Radakovich, Robbie (Chelsy) Radakovich, Evan Petrone and Nelson Petrone; and 13 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Dora would recommend a memorial to the Valley County Food Bank.