Gordon Patterson

Gordon "Pat" Patterson, 97, Wahpeton, ND, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2012 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, MN. The Funeral Service will be Thursday, July 12, 2:00 PM at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Jule' Ballinger officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Wahpeton. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Gordon Vincent Patterson, "Pat", was born July 8, 1915 at Wyndmere Township, ND, the son of Pierre V. and Emma A. (Stewart) Patterson. He attended Wahpeton public schools, graduating from Wahpeton High School in 1935. He attended North Dakota State School of Science where he played football and was captain for 2 years when they won the conference championship; he also lettered in boxing. He attended University of Northern Iowa (Iowa State Teachers College) and during Christmas break he was united in marriage to Grace Faller on December 28, 1940. He graduated from UNI and accepted a teaching and coaching position at Nichols, IA. He was hired at NDSSS as an instructor in business division and was also an assistant coach for Skip Bute. On March 20 1943, Pat entered the Army-Air Corps, during WWII. He completed 56 missions with the 716th Bomb Squad, 449th Bomb Group. He received his Field commission while stationed in Italy. Pat was honorably discharged on October 5, 1945 and joined Co. I, Wahpeton Unit of the 164th ND National Guard, where he was Captain and Commander until June, 1951. He returned to NDSSS as Director of Finance and assistant football coach and was also head coach of boxing for 12 years, during this time he was named as Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Man of the Year, twice. Pat helped establish the NDSSS Earl "Skip" Bute Scholarship Fund, NDSSS Athletic Hall of Fame and Alumni Letterwinners Association.

Pat retired from NDSSS as Vice President of Business Affairs in 1978. He went to work for Carr Enterprises and Tree Services in Ottertail, MN until October, 1989. He entered St. Francis Nursing Home in 2011.

Pat was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, and had served on the Board of Trustees, and building committee for a new church building. He also was a member of American Legion, a charter member of the noon Kiwanis Club and served many years as secretary of the Golden K Kiwanis Club. He was also a longtime member of the Wahpeton Masonic Lodge and the Iowa Theta Alumni Association-Phi Sigma Epsilon. He served on the Wahpeton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and received the Chamber Service Award in 1960. He received many honors from NDSSS including: Wildcat of the Year, Parade Grand Marshall for Homecoming, along with his wife, Grace; and in 1981 the Physical Plant was named in his honor. Pat enjoyed playing couples bridge and fishing at his Otter Tail Lake cabin.

Pat is survived by his wife, Grace, Breckenridge, MN; a son and three daughters (who all attended NDSSS): Roger (Linda) Patterson, Wahpeton, ND; Susan (Bill) Boutwell, Ogema, MN; Linda Patterson, Brooklyn Park, MN; Debra (Bob) White, Bismarck, ND and his sister, Dorothy (Harold) Berger; five grandchildren: Bill (Jane), Mike (Ann), Shelly (Bryan), Brittany White and Matthew White, and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Aurilla, and a great granddaughter, Kayla Boutwell.

Memorials are requested to the NDSCS Gordon "Pat" Patterson Athletic Scholarship Fund.