Patricia (Patti) Rosalee Dusbabek, 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 28, 2010, of natural causes. She's taking five—one of her favorite things to say.
Born Oct. 11, 1927, in Santa Barbara, Calif., Patti was the daughter of Russell and Verna Hicks. She had two brothers, Buddy and Jack. Patty grew up during the Depression. She said she ate so much rabbit she couldn't stand it anymore. She rode her horse to school and would help her mom garden and her dad hunt. Her first job was picking the thorns off roses in a floral shop. During World War II, she was a photographer's model and a pin-up girl for G.I.s.
She married Wayne Klever, a World War II fighter pilot who flew off aircraft carriers in the Pacific theater. After the war he picked her up in his plane and they flew to Washington state to live and raise their family. She had a very exciting life, flying all over the Pacific Northwest on Wayne's charter flights, flagging for him when he crop dusted and taking care of the airport when he was a bush pilot helping map northern Alaska. They had four children, Gary Klever of Honolulu, Cindy Leonard of Hailey, Susie Beban of Kona and Doug Klever of Ahipara, New Zealand. Her children were her greatest joy.
Patti was a woman of many talents. She played in a bowling league and loved to garden and play bridge. Her passion was oil painting. She liked to go camping and plan the perfect party. In 1963, her family moved to Southern California. When Wayne died in 1972, she moved to Ketchum for a year to be near her children.
In 1974, she met and married another pilot, Joseph Dusbabek. Joe was a retired major in the Air Force who flew C-47 transports, towing gliders and carrying paratroopers in World War II. They lived close to Cal State Fullerton where Joe was a professor until his death in 1997. Mom then went back to Idaho and built a home in Hailey.
Patricia is survived by her children, Gary, Cindy, Susan and Douglas; grandchildren, Malia, Schuyler, Jeffry, Chrystal and Casey; great-grandchildren Aislyn and Brooklyn; and her brother Jack. She was preceded in death by Wayne and Joe, her parents and her brother Buddy.
A celebration of Patti's life will be held Friday, July 2, from 4-7 p.m. at her home at 710 Angela Drive in Hailey.
Take five, Mom!
