Obituary of Pat Saunders
Patricia (Pat) Katherine Saunders, age 94, of Willmar, formerly of Bird Island died Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Bethesda Pleasant View (now Bethesda Grand). Memorial services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Byron Perrine officiating. Private Family Burial will be on Friday at the Bird Island Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and will resume for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials are preferred to the Bird Island United Methodist Church and/or Bethesda. Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Pat was born on February 9, 1922, at home in Melville, North Dakota to Fernando and Alice (Walters) Reimers. She went to school in Bordulac until 10th grade, when she transferred to Carrington High School. After high school she attended North Dakota State University where she obtained a degree in Home Economics Education. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority while at NDSU.
On June 30, 1944, Pat was united in marriage to Frank Saunders. They first taught together in Bagley, MN. In 1957 Pat and Frank moved to Bird Island, Pat teaching Home Economics and Frank teaching Ag. Pat worked at the high schools in both Bird Island and Olivia, never limiting her “job” to what was written in text books. Her faith in her students empowered boys in the late 60’s to learn how to cook, and girls to not just make a dress from a pattern, but to make “cool” clothes that they would love to wear. And she taught the class of 1960 how to have fun AND be responsible, when she and Frank chaperoned their trip to Chicago. As shown by the comments of her many students and the devotion of the class of 1960, she fostered her students to believe that they could do anything they set their minds to.
Her retirement from teaching did not result in Pat relaxing, but resulted in a new career. She was a designer, with an uncanny ability to put together rooms, gardens and clothes (with coordinated hats of course). She acted on her love for creativity: to restore the wood work and decorate the century old “Pat’s House”; to open an adult sewing school; and to start an interior decorating business where she squired her clients to the International Market Place to create her upscale home designs. Her roses and yard were a constant comfort to her. Her scalloped potatoes were a constant comfort to her family.
Pat’s greatest love was reserved for her five children, 15 grandchildren and her 19 great grandchildren. Although she survived her two sons Jim and Tom, it meant so much to her that their wives and families remained very close to her throughout her life. Nothing showed her love of family more than “Saunders” week--the annual reunion at Rob’s lake where she could enjoy all of her “kids” as she tooled around in her golf cart, passing up sleep to stay up late so she never missed any of the action.
She is survived by daughter-in-laws, Renee Saunders and Pam Saunders; son Rob (Renae) Saunders; daughter Jayne (Jim) Holm; son Jon (Linda) Saunders and her beloved dog “Charlie”. Grandchildren: Summer (Jeff) Johnson, Mara (Bill) Dooley; Molly (Mark) Olson, Luke (Sarah) Saunders, Ivy (Brad) Manning, Nell (David) Saunders-Scott; Liza (Jon) Davis, Holly (Dave) Baur; Nicoli Holm, Noah (Jess) Holm, Tait Holm, Tessa Holm; Lindsey (A.J.) Meyer, Ben (Kendra) Saunders, Alec (Emily) Saunders and 19 beloved greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, her husband Frank and her sons Jim and Tom.
Blessed Be Her Memory
Courtesy Dirks-Blem Funeral Services, Olivia, Minnesota
Patricia (Pat) Katherine Saunders, age 94, of Willmar, formerly of Bird Island died Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Bethesda Pleasant View (now Bethesda Grand). Memorial services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Byron Perrine officiating. Private Family Burial will be on Friday at the Bird Island Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and will resume for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials are preferred to the Bird Island United Methodist Church and/or Bethesda. Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Pat was born on February 9, 1922, at home in Melville, North Dakota to Fernando and Alice (Walters) Reimers. She went to school in Bordulac until 10th grade, when she transferred to Carrington High School. After high school she attended North Dakota State University where she obtained a degree in Home Economics Education. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority while at NDSU.
On June 30, 1944, Pat was united in marriage to Frank Saunders. They first taught together in Bagley, MN. In 1957 Pat and Frank moved to Bird Island, Pat teaching Home Economics and Frank teaching Ag. Pat worked at the high schools in both Bird Island and Olivia, never limiting her “job” to what was written in text books. Her faith in her students empowered boys in the late 60’s to learn how to cook, and girls to not just make a dress from a pattern, but to make “cool” clothes that they would love to wear. And she taught the class of 1960 how to have fun AND be responsible, when she and Frank chaperoned their trip to Chicago. As shown by the comments of her many students and the devotion of the class of 1960, she fostered her students to believe that they could do anything they set their minds to.
Her retirement from teaching did not result in Pat relaxing, but resulted in a new career. She was a designer, with an uncanny ability to put together rooms, gardens and clothes (with coordinated hats of course). She acted on her love for creativity: to restore the wood work and decorate the century old “Pat’s House”; to open an adult sewing school; and to start an interior decorating business where she squired her clients to the International Market Place to create her upscale home designs. Her roses and yard were a constant comfort to her. Her scalloped potatoes were a constant comfort to her family.
Pat’s greatest love was reserved for her five children, 15 grandchildren and her 19 great grandchildren. Although she survived her two sons Jim and Tom, it meant so much to her that their wives and families remained very close to her throughout her life. Nothing showed her love of family more than “Saunders” week--the annual reunion at Rob’s lake where she could enjoy all of her “kids” as she tooled around in her golf cart, passing up sleep to stay up late so she never missed any of the action.
She is survived by daughter-in-laws, Renee Saunders and Pam Saunders; son Rob (Renae) Saunders; daughter Jayne (Jim) Holm; son Jon (Linda) Saunders and her beloved dog “Charlie”. Grandchildren: Summer (Jeff) Johnson, Mara (Bill) Dooley; Molly (Mark) Olson, Luke (Sarah) Saunders, Ivy (Brad) Manning, Nell (David) Saunders-Scott; Liza (Jon) Davis, Holly (Dave) Baur; Nicoli Holm, Noah (Jess) Holm, Tait Holm, Tessa Holm; Lindsey (A.J.) Meyer, Ben (Kendra) Saunders, Alec (Emily) Saunders and 19 beloved greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, her husband Frank and her sons Jim and Tom.
Blessed Be Her Memory
Courtesy Dirks-Blem Funeral Services, Olivia, Minnesota
Obituary of Pat Saunders
Patricia (Pat) Katherine Saunders, age 94, of Willmar, formerly of Bird Island died Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Bethesda Pleasant View (now Bethesda Grand). Memorial services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Byron Perrine officiating. Private Family Burial will be on Friday at the Bird Island Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and will resume for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials are preferred to the Bird Island United Methodist Church and/or Bethesda. Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Pat was born on February 9, 1922, at home in Melville, North Dakota to Fernando and Alice (Walters) Reimers. She went to school in Bordulac until 10th grade, when she transferred to Carrington High School. After high school she attended North Dakota State University where she obtained a degree in Home Economics Education. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority while at NDSU.
On June 30, 1944, Pat was united in marriage to Frank Saunders. They first taught together in Bagley, MN. In 1957 Pat and Frank moved to Bird Island, Pat teaching Home Economics and Frank teaching Ag. Pat worked at the high schools in both Bird Island and Olivia, never limiting her “job” to what was written in text books. Her faith in her students empowered boys in the late 60’s to learn how to cook, and girls to not just make a dress from a pattern, but to make “cool” clothes that they would love to wear. And she taught the class of 1960 how to have fun AND be responsible, when she and Frank chaperoned their trip to Chicago. As shown by the comments of her many students and the devotion of the class of 1960, she fostered her students to believe that they could do anything they set their minds to.
Her retirement from teaching did not result in Pat relaxing, but resulted in a new career. She was a designer, with an uncanny ability to put together rooms, gardens and clothes (with coordinated hats of course). She acted on her love for creativity: to restore the wood work and decorate the century old “Pat’s House”; to open an adult sewing school; and to start an interior decorating business where she squired her clients to the International Market Place to create her upscale home designs. Her roses and yard were a constant comfort to her. Her scalloped potatoes were a constant comfort to her family.
Pat’s greatest love was reserved for her five children, 15 grandchildren and her 19 great grandchildren. Although she survived her two sons Jim and Tom, it meant so much to her that their wives and families remained very close to her throughout her life. Nothing showed her love of family more than “Saunders” week--the annual reunion at Rob’s lake where she could enjoy all of her “kids” as she tooled around in her golf cart, passing up sleep to stay up late so she never missed any of the action.
She is survived by daughter-in-laws, Renee Saunders and Pam Saunders; son Rob (Renae) Saunders; daughter Jayne (Jim) Holm; son Jon (Linda) Saunders and her beloved dog “Charlie”. Grandchildren: Summer (Jeff) Johnson, Mara (Bill) Dooley; Molly (Mark) Olson, Luke (Sarah) Saunders, Ivy (Brad) Manning, Nell (David) Saunders-Scott; Liza (Jon) Davis, Holly (Dave) Baur; Nicoli Holm, Noah (Jess) Holm, Tait Holm, Tessa Holm; Lindsey (A.J.) Meyer, Ben (Kendra) Saunders, Alec (Emily) Saunders and 19 beloved greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, her husband Frank and her sons Jim and Tom.
Blessed Be Her Memory
Courtesy Dirks-Blem Funeral Services, Olivia, Minnesota
Patricia (Pat) Katherine Saunders, age 94, of Willmar, formerly of Bird Island died Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Bethesda Pleasant View (now Bethesda Grand). Memorial services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Byron Perrine officiating. Private Family Burial will be on Friday at the Bird Island Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and will resume for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials are preferred to the Bird Island United Methodist Church and/or Bethesda. Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Pat was born on February 9, 1922, at home in Melville, North Dakota to Fernando and Alice (Walters) Reimers. She went to school in Bordulac until 10th grade, when she transferred to Carrington High School. After high school she attended North Dakota State University where she obtained a degree in Home Economics Education. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority while at NDSU.
On June 30, 1944, Pat was united in marriage to Frank Saunders. They first taught together in Bagley, MN. In 1957 Pat and Frank moved to Bird Island, Pat teaching Home Economics and Frank teaching Ag. Pat worked at the high schools in both Bird Island and Olivia, never limiting her “job” to what was written in text books. Her faith in her students empowered boys in the late 60’s to learn how to cook, and girls to not just make a dress from a pattern, but to make “cool” clothes that they would love to wear. And she taught the class of 1960 how to have fun AND be responsible, when she and Frank chaperoned their trip to Chicago. As shown by the comments of her many students and the devotion of the class of 1960, she fostered her students to believe that they could do anything they set their minds to.
Her retirement from teaching did not result in Pat relaxing, but resulted in a new career. She was a designer, with an uncanny ability to put together rooms, gardens and clothes (with coordinated hats of course). She acted on her love for creativity: to restore the wood work and decorate the century old “Pat’s House”; to open an adult sewing school; and to start an interior decorating business where she squired her clients to the International Market Place to create her upscale home designs. Her roses and yard were a constant comfort to her. Her scalloped potatoes were a constant comfort to her family.
Pat’s greatest love was reserved for her five children, 15 grandchildren and her 19 great grandchildren. Although she survived her two sons Jim and Tom, it meant so much to her that their wives and families remained very close to her throughout her life. Nothing showed her love of family more than “Saunders” week--the annual reunion at Rob’s lake where she could enjoy all of her “kids” as she tooled around in her golf cart, passing up sleep to stay up late so she never missed any of the action.
She is survived by daughter-in-laws, Renee Saunders and Pam Saunders; son Rob (Renae) Saunders; daughter Jayne (Jim) Holm; son Jon (Linda) Saunders and her beloved dog “Charlie”. Grandchildren: Summer (Jeff) Johnson, Mara (Bill) Dooley; Molly (Mark) Olson, Luke (Sarah) Saunders, Ivy (Brad) Manning, Nell (David) Saunders-Scott; Liza (Jon) Davis, Holly (Dave) Baur; Nicoli Holm, Noah (Jess) Holm, Tait Holm, Tessa Holm; Lindsey (A.J.) Meyer, Ben (Kendra) Saunders, Alec (Emily) Saunders and 19 beloved greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, her husband Frank and her sons Jim and Tom.
Blessed Be Her Memory
Courtesy Dirks-Blem Funeral Services, Olivia, Minnesota
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