Memorial Services for Patty "Pat" Lou (Cunningham -Sholes) Banks, age 91, of O'Neill and formerly of Clearwater, will be 11:00 am Friday, January 10, 2020 at the Methodist Church in O'Neill.  Rev. Wayne Owens will officiate.   Patty passed away Sunday, December 15, 2019 at the Arbor Care Center in O'Neill. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials can be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and United Methodist Church in O'Neill.    Biglin's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Patty was born to Ben and Alice (Myer) Cunningham in Iowa Township-Middlebrach, NE on May 8, 1928.  The oldest child of seven, she spent her young years in the Middlebranch area helping her mother with the younger kids.  The family later moved to Inman where Patty graduated from high school on May 14, 1947.

She married Horace "Bud" Sholes June 9, 1946.  They raised their three children on the family farm near Inman.  They moved into Inman in 1980.  Patty started working outside her home in 1968 when the kids were old enough to be home alone.  She worked at the grocery store in Inman.  In 1971, she went to work at O'Neill Senior Citizen's Home initially as a housekeeper, then a Certified Geriatric Aide, then as Office Manager.  She changed jobs in the late 1970's and became a bookkeeper at the shoe store in O'Neill.  She took several college classes on small town business management.

Bud passed away January 10, 1994.  Patty married Paul Banks April 9, 1998.  She then moved to Clearwater where she took under her wing Paul Bank's, adult son, Bill.  Paul passed away November 7, 2006.  Patty and Bill continued to live in Clearwater until 2016 when Bill moved back to Colorado and Patty moved to an apartment in O'Neill.  Her health failed in June of 2019 and she moved to the Arbor Care Center in O'Neill.

Patty's greatest love was her family.  She took caring for others as her duty as a Christian Woman.  She took her four youngest siblings into her home when her mom remarried and moved away.  She then raised her own kids, then the grandchildren came around and then the great and great-great grandchildren.  She loved being "Gramma Pat" and spending time with her family.

Patty was an accomplished seamstress and over the years made three wedding dresses and many quilts (she never counted how many), most of which she hand-quilted.  Many women in the Inman area hired her to sew dresses and do alterations for them.  She embroidered and crocheted as well.  She loved to cook and she made noodles for family gatherings which her grandson's ate with gusto and always wanted more!

Patty was a member of the United Methodist Church in Inman for 50 years, and to O'Neill United Methodist Church after she moved to her apartment in O'Neill.  In addition, she was a 4H leader in Inman.  She felt it was her duty as a Christian Woman to care for others and always stepped up if someone needed her.

One of her most treasured accomplishments was making a birdhouse valance after seeing a picture of it in a magazine.  She created the pattern and sewed it, just like the one in the magazine.  She was deeply loved by her family and friends and her passing has left a hole in all of their lives.

Patty is survived by her children; Arlie (Diane) Sholes of Omaha, Glen (Jane) Sholes of rural Inman, NE, Kathy (Bill) Grutsch of Hartington, NE; one step-son, Bill Banks of Grand Junction, CO; one sister, Sharon Caswell of Chadron, NE; 13 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bud Sholes; husband, Paul Banks; five siblings, Terry Cunningham, Iris Carpenter, Lucy Couch, Eva Comstock, and Tom Cunningham.

Following is a poem written by her grandson, Adam for her birthday.

My Grandma Pat

Families, they change, throughout the years,

And the best way forward may seem unclear.

It's during these times, I like to think back,

To all the good times with my Grandma Pat.

From the hugs and the kisses, the eggs and fried chicken,

to the toads and mudholes, the frogs and the fishin'.

My siblings to cousins, I think we agree,

Few things are precious as those memories.

So, thanks for that smile and your infectious laugh,

But most of all, for just being, "My Grandma Pat".