Patricia Dawn Wayrynen Kuschel was born on July 6, 1963, to Kenneth and Leona Wayrynen in San Gabriel, California. She passed away peacefully at her home in Ronan, Montana during the early morning hours on January 1, 2026.

Her funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 14, at the Faith Mennonite Church, rural Iroquois. Burial followed in the Garfield Lutheran Church Cemetery, Bryant.

Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Patty spent the first four years of her life in California, and then moved to South Dakota with her family, living in Lake Preston and other places. In 1974 she became acquainted with the Mennonites. The Earl Yost family was her first acquaintance, and she spent a year and half living with them. In 1979 the Darrel Yost family graciously opened their home to her. There she responded to God’s call and was baptized by Min. Raymond Ensz, on May 6, 1979, and became a member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite of Iroquois, South Dakota.

During a short marriage, Patty was blessed with two sons, Keith and Mitchell. Some of her joys with her children and their friends included hunting coons, old house hunting, and fishing trips to the Missouri river. She loved nature, sunsets, full moon rises, and walleye. She was known for her deep care for her two sons and others, her good cooking skills and her strong opinions. She loved campfires and coffee. Patty started a business called Dawn to Dust Cleaning, cleaning and cooking for the seniors at the Villa retirement care home, the best thing was her connection with people.

Throughout her life, Patty faced challenges, difficulties, and disappointments with resilience. After losing their house to a fire in 2022, she and her son Mitchell moved to Montana, following her son's dream. Here she worked at the local Harvest Foods grocery store and cooked at the Ronan Senior Center, making many friends. Her friendly disposition and warm smile will be greatly missed. Six months ago, she underwent a triple bypass surgery after a heart attack. She then realized that life was uncertain and often expressed thankfulness to God for giving her more time. Patty’s love for nature and a good drive never waned; Keith would often call and find Patty and Mitchell wearing out the road on the nature drive at the National Bison Range.

Patty is survived by her two sons: Keith Kuschel, 34, of Huron, South Dakota, and Mitchell Kuschel, 32, of Ronan, Montana; two sisters, Melinda Mansfield, 67, of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Jennifer Wayrynen, 54, of Chamberlain, South Dakota; one brother, Matthew Wayrynen, 57, of Huron, South Dakota; and her nieces and nephews, Bobbie Jo, Brad, Trista, Tynia and Jason.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a former husband, one infant brother, one brother, and one sister.