Pat Curry

[stilwtrgrizz]

The Griz football family is saddened to learn that Billings native Pat Curry, an All-American D-Lineman at UM from 1978-81, has passed away.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones. (From Montana Griz Football)

 

[heightsgriz]

That is sad. He was a great player. I believe the grizzly roar played in the stadium back in the 90's was recorded by him. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[mousegriz1]

That is sad. He was a great player. I believe the grizzly roar played in the stadium back in the 90's was recorded by him. Can anyone confirm that?

Yes I can confirm. It began as a Golden Bear growl at a pep assembly back in 1977(?) or so.

 

[EverettGriz]

Griz Nation mourns.

 

[MikeyGriz]

Pat was a year behind me at Billings West. Was always smiling. He loved Griz Nation. He will be missed.

 

[speth]

Sad to hear the news. I played with Pat. Great guy, really good football player, and team player. Really one of the good guys. His life was way too short.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Yes I can confirm. It began as a Golden Bear growl at a pep assembly back in 1977(?) or so.

Thats the same year I began. Well technically it was more like July of '76 but '77's when i first came up for air.

 

[billingsgriz]

God Bless, Pat and his family--most Billings residents always felt a little safer when they saw this hulking former GRIZ in his BPD uniform at an accident or crime scene--I sure did. !!!

 

[SinCityGriz2005]

Thats the same year I began. Well technically it was more like July of '76 but '77's when i first came up for air.

He was before my time at West.

 

[Grizzy44]

A very mild mannered big man who always had a huge smile on his face. RIP

 

[cowboymt]

sad news....have known Pat since high school days.. such a good guy. RIP

 

[Ursus Horriblis]

sad news....have known Pat since high school days.. such a good guy. RIP

I think you are from Miles City and played for the Cats…?

 

[mousegriz1]

Patrick Curry Obituary April 13, 2026 - Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary

View Patrick Curry's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

www.michelottisawyers.com

 

[mthoopsfan]

Did any of you know? I never met him, but I recall always hearing very good things about him. How did he die? Way too young.

 

[mousegriz1]

Did any of you know? I never met him, but I recall always hearing very good things about him. How did he die? Way too young.

I knew him as my best friend in life. Graduated grade school through UM together. He passed peacefully of a heart attack at home.

He leaves quite a legacy. His true and sincere compassion for people was probably his best trait.

I'll miss my friend and Brother tremendously, as I know will many more who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Patrick Curry.

 

[mthoopsfan]

I knew him as my best friend in life. Graduated grade school through UM together. He passed peacefully of a heart attack at home.

He leaves quite a legacy. His true and sincere compassion for people was probably his best trait.

I'll miss my friend and Brother tremendously, as I know will many more who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Patrick Curry.

Thx. Was obviously a great guy who impacted many people. Take care of yourself.

 

[tourist]

Sad for Pat Curry and family. He was relatively young. I've had co-workers who's spouse dropped while sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee, in his late 30's. A cousin who dropped before his 30's. A neighbor who dropped in his mid-70's, but survived(arrythmia)after impacting the ground. Like a precordial thump jump starting his heart again. He said he felt 'nothing.' A middle aged woman dropped while preparing for baked goods. She knocked a flour container to the floor, falling face down into the flour. She survived, only to die a week or two later from aspiration pneumonia(flour).
It can happen to any of us. I try to leave nothing undone or unsaid.

The most iconic quote from Dead Poets Society (1989) is "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary". Spoken by John Keating (Robin Williams), it inspires students to live passionately and avoid a "quiet desperation."
From his obituary, Pat Curry did not lead a life of quiet desperation.

 

[ilovethecats]

I knew him as my best friend in life. Graduated grade school through UM together. He passed peacefully of a heart attack at home.

He leaves quite a legacy. His true and sincere compassion for people was probably his best trait.

I'll miss my friend and Brother tremendously, as I know will many more who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Patrick Curry.

Sorry to hear this MG. Hope you keep your head up in these shitty days.

 

[billingsgriz]

Although I met Pat briefly several times, I didn't realize he was a Brother Mason, but it makes sense:

 

[billingsgriz]

Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, the Vigilantes of Montana--3-7-77, led by Territorial Governor Sidney Edgerton, Nathaniel Langford, author of " Vigilante Days and Ways " and the first superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, Wilbur Fisk Sanders, Gov. Edgerton's nephew and a future Montana US Senator, Granville Stuart, the first president of The Montana Stockgrower's Association, and newspaperman, editor of The Montana Post Thomas Dimsdale, author of the contemporary and seminal " The Vigilantes of Montana ( 1866)," published shortly after Dimsdale died of " consumption ( TB ) at the Age of 35 were all Freemasons.( Thomas Dimsdale was also appointed by Territoria Gov. Edgerton as the first The Montana Territorial Superintendent of Schools.)

In front of Billings City Hall, there is a monument to Billings Police and Yellowstone County Sheriffs and Deputies killed in the line of duty--10 officers, that includes three Masons, including BPD detective Alex Mavity, the last BPD officer killed in the line of duty when Alex was killed on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 of 1989 while arresting Rocky Mtn. College football recruit Ronnie Ducksworth, who was also wanted for car theft--Rocky's due diligence was obviously lacking !!! Ducksworth resisted arrest in Downtown Billings, grabbed Alex's sidearm and shot Alex, Alex wrestled his weapon back away from Ducksworth and shot him and both Alex and Ducksworth died.

In 2001, we held a Vigilante Masonic Dinner at The Al Bedoo Shrine Auditorium, where 12 years earlier Detective Mavity's funeral was held, to honor the historic connection between Freemasonry and law enforcement in general and Montana Lt. Governor Karl Ohs in particular. Brother Karl, Past Master of The Harrison Masonic Lodge, had patiently and very bravely ridden his horse into the heavily armed Freemen Compound in Jordan in 1996 during their long 81 day standoff with The FBI. Brother Karl's life was on the line as he rode his horse on national TV 19 times into the heavily armed compound surrounded by FBI SWAT teams before Karl finally convinced The Montana Freemen to surrender. Brother Karl was the only man trusted by both the anti-government Freemen of Montana and The FBI, and without him, that standoff probably has a very bloody ending, like Waco three years earlier.

Pat was at that dinner--given his size, he was kind of jard to miss--and unknown to me at the time not only as a Billings Police Officer but also as a Brother Mason.

The universal reaction to Pat's death in Billings among the general public and law enforcement, excluding the bad guys he arrested, is great sadness : ) !!! RIP, Brother Pat !!!