Patti Jo Kencke Mcgrath

December 7, 1937 - September 10, 2025, formerly of Mountain Home, Idaho.

Patti was born in Great Falls, Montana to Chester A. Kencke and Vivian A. (Whyte) Kencke, on December 7, 1937. When she was a child the family moved to Boise, Idaho, where Patti attended Franklin Elementary School and South Junior High, before moving to Mountain Home. She graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1956.

She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Mcgrath, on July 27, 1955, in Lovelock, Nevada. They enjoyed 63 years together before Ralph’s passing on November 13, 2018. She worked at Mountain Home Air Force Base Credit Union until 1966, when she was diagnosed with MS, a disease she struggled with for over fifty years. As her eyesight failed, she enjoyed listening to books on tape provided by the Idaho Talking Book Service. Over the years, she listened to 4,925 books!

As a young girl, she spent quite a bit of time in Pine, Idaho, and was well versed in the history of Elmore County. She and Ralph built a cabin on the south fork of the Boise River in Pine and she enjoyed spending time there whenever possible. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her parents Chester and Vivian Kencke and her brother, Jerry Kencke. She is survived by her son, Kim Mcgrath and his wife, Linda, of Pine, Idaho, her son Kevin Mcgrath and his wife, Tami, of Puyallup, Washington, four grandchildren, Conor Courtney) Mcgrath, Megan (Christopher) Smith, Jacob Mcgrath, Stevee (Semaj) Allen, seven great grandchildren, Sawyer, Finn and Cohen Mcgrath, Imani, Imilah and Xander Allen, Maximiliano Smith and her sister Shirley Freer as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Cottages at Alpine Meadows and Journeys Hospice for their excellent care of Patti. A huge thank you to Imelda Mcgrath for her care over the last several years.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Tunnels to Towers or Elmore County Historical Foundation.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, September 18th from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, 325 S 3rd West Street, with a luncheon beginning at 1:00 followed by a short service at 2:00.