Patricia J. Scott

Patricia Jean (Jordan) Scott Pat was born on January 1, 1924, in Mankato, MN, to Patrick and Cecilia (Leonard) Jordan. As a premature baby weighing only 3 lbs., she spent her first month sleeping in a shoebox with a light bulb. Her family first moved to Marshalltown, IA, and then to Winona, MN, where her parents opened Jordan’s Dress Shop. As the only child of two working parents, Pat was thrilled when they hired a housekeeper, only to find out it was to teach her how to cook and clean. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1941 and enrolled in the College of St. Theresa in Winona. Following two years of college, Pat traveled to Washington, DC, and was employed by the FBI from 1943 to 1945. When WW II ended, she headed home to Winona to work in the family dress shop.

On April 21, 1948, Pat was united in marriage with Charles Edwin (Ed) Scott at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, MN. They lived in Saginaw, MI, for a year and then moved to Minneapolis to be closer to Pat’s mom who was ill. Their first two sons, Chuck and Ed, were born in Minneapolis. Pat and Ed moved to Spencer, IA, in 1952, where their daughter, Janet, and son, Mark were born. From 1957 to 1964, the family lived in New Rockford, ND, Oakes, ND, and Ely, MN. They settled in Wahpeton, ND in 1964. 

Pat worked at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton as the Coordinator of the Evening School until 1982. She also took real estate courses, passed the realtor’s license exam, and then decided she only did it as a learning experience. As a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Pat taught CCD classes, was active in the Catholic Daughters of America, and served hundreds of funeral lunches with her church circle. She volunteered at St. Catherine’s Living Center well into her 90s and quit only when she could no longer push residents to Mass in a wheelchair. Upon their retirement in 1982, Pat & Ed enjoyed their summers at their home on Star Lake in Otter Tail County, MN, and spent many winters with their friends in Mesa, AZ.

Pat reluctantly followed her Boy Scout leader husband into the BWCA wilderness to camp with her family. She was an avid reader, especially enjoying thrillers and biographies. She played on the ladies golf league in the summer and enjoyed her bridge groups during the winter. She was the “grammar police” and never let her kids off the hook for bad sentence structure. Pat could make a martini that would knock your socks off. She loved chocolate, Mexican food, donut holes, and a good Whopper Jr. She was an avid MN Twins fan and UND hockey fan, watching both sports on TV. Pat loved her children and cherished each grandchild. Without exception, before we hung up the phone every night, she would thank us for calling.

Pat is survived and missed by her children, Ed (Bonnie) Scott, Billings, MT, Janet (Jon Silverman) Scott, Minneapolis, MN, and Mark Scott, Fargo, ND; her daughter-in-law, Gladys Scott, Freeport, NY, and Gladys’s daughters, Kelly and Nicole; her grandchildren, Kelly Scott, Michael Scott, Matthew (Nicole) Scott, Anna Silverman, and Libby Silverman; great-grandchildren Olivia and Griffen Scott. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edwin (Ed) Scott; her son, Charles Patrick Scott; and her parents, Patrick and Cecilia Jordan. 

There are no words to express how grateful we are to Pat’s family at Siena Court. Every single caregiver greeted Mom each day with a smile, cared for her selflessly, and treated her like their own mom. A heartfelt thank you to the St. Francis Healthcare Campus community; each and every one treated Pat and our family with gentleness, respect, and loving care. A special thank you to Michelle Stach and Fr. Paul Kuhn who prayed with Mom and gave her strength. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church, 115 2^nd St. North, Wahpeton., ND 58075.