Trisha Thelen Ryan, our mom, mimi, wife, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on August 13, 2026, following a courageous and hard-fought battle against cancer. Trisha was born on August 11, 1967, in Billings, Montana, to Jim and Jo Thelen. She was the tenth sibling of eleven children. She always said she was the perfect ten!
Trisha’s early childhood was filled with many fond memories of the holidays spent alongside family, especially her favorite, Christmas. Trisha attended the Billings Catholic Schools where she formed lifelong friendships and participated in many sports and activities, including golf, majorettes, basketball, and more. She graduated from Billings Central in 1985, and from there she went on to attend Carroll College. After two years in Helena, she moved to Missoula and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Political Science.
Shortly after graduation in the summer of 1990, Trisha met her husband, Chris, through mutual friends. The two were married on April 27, 1991, at St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral. Soon after, she began her true calling of motherhood, which she always deemed her favorite job. Her firstborn, Haydn, her favorite oldest son, was born in January of 1993, followed by Hadley, her favorite oldest daughter, in 1995, Holden, her favorite youngest son, in 1997, and her boo, Halzey, her favorite youngest daughter, in 2003.
Thus began her favorite time of her life raising her children. She was heavily involved in her children’s activities and contributed much to their successes. Trisha loved to “mom”, as her kids always said. Whether that was being a mom to her own children, nieces or nephews, or her children’s friends. Everyone always felt welcomed by Trisha.
Trisha was a very hard worker, starting as a dental assistant in college; she worked in the industry for over twenty years. She then pursued a career in real estate as an agent. She had a lasting impact in the community by chairing the SAINTS fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospital, many years in Junior League, and helping with Mayfair for the Billings Catholic Schools.
Trisha was always the life of the party, lighting up each room she entered, and according to her, always the funniest person in the room. Her life was spent doing the things she loved most. She loved to golf, and she even taught Chris to do so. She was the designated photographer for every event and kept every photo hostage. She loved to spend time at the family cabin in Red Lodge, where we all made many fond memories.
Trisha is preceded in death by her parents, James and Jo Thelen; brothers, Tim and Tom Thelen; and brother-in-law Sean Ryan. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Chris; her children, Haydn (Erika), Hadley (Zachariah), Holden, and Halstyn; her four grandchildren, Jordan, Kieran, Iris, and Hudson; her eight siblings and their spouses; her in-laws Si and Barby Ryan; her two brothers-in-law and their spouses; her sister-in-law; and her numerous nieces and nephews.
We want to give a special thank you to the team at the Intermountain Cancer Center who gave our mom incredible care over the last 15 months of her battle. Especially Dr. Fiddler, Hailie, Kari, Andrea, Ginger, Jamie, and Ginger. Another thank you to Christina at Stillwater Hospice.
Make a wish Momma Chachi (MC), we love you always!
The rosary will be prayed at 5:45pm, followed by a vigil at 6:00pm on Wednesday, August 19. The funeral mass celebrating her life is at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 20, both at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral, 215 N. 31st.
In lieu of flowers, your generosity and kindness can be gifted to PanCAN for Pancreatic Cancer Research or the Billings Catholic Schools Foundation.