Patricia Sjoquist

Patricia L. Sjoquist, age 83, of Herman, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Barrett Care Center in Barrett, Minnesota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman with Rev. Irving Arnquist officiating. Organist will be Olivia Richards with special music provided by Peggy Corey..

Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Herman. Honorary urn bearers will be Patricia’s nieces and nephews: Cindy (Sylvan) Prothero; Jim (Kris) Vipond; Kim (Doug) Oachs; Jodi (Doyle) Sperr; Jay (Sandy) Sheets; Gary (Kris) Vipond; Sonja (Tony) Brown; and Stacy (Heidi) Wirtjes .

Visitation will be held Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Patricia Louise Sjoquist was born on April 22, 1935, the oldest child of Oscar and Hazel Sjoquist. She was baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman and confirmed her baptism at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Herman.

From the beginning, Pat went her own way. Pulling her wagon, Pat delivered butter to businesses in town at a very young age. She accompanied her father on the milk route, riding through the country collecting milk for the Herman Creamery that he managed. She was not afraid of work, from her childhood through retirement. Her work ethic learned from her parents early in her life.

Pat attended Herman Public Schools, graduating in 1953. Her high school years were filled with band and choir, plays, dances and social events. She played softball with the girls but, when she could, she would sneak in with the boys and play baseball. She liked competition and was a good athlete in a time when women’s sports were not offered in school. She belonged to a shooting club and won competitions in small bore target shooting.

After graduation from high school, Pat enrolled at the MN School of Business and graduated in 1954. The big city held no allure for her and she returned to Herman. Delaware Mutual Insurance had an opening for a secretary. She landed that job and worked her entire career in the insurance industry, retiring in 2001 as the Assistant Manager of Delaware Mutual Insurance.

Being employed full time wasn’t enough for Pat. She was a devoted community activist. She served in officer’s roles in the Herman Booster Club, the Herman Development Corp. and the Agassiz Flying Club. She served on the organizational committees for Herman All-School Reunions, the Hop to Herman and the infamous Bachelormania. Whenever the call went out for community volunteers, Pat was there. She was honored at the Herman Odd Fellow’s Hall of Fame banquet in 1986 for her contributions to civic life in Herman.

Traditional “female” pastimes were not for Pat. She enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, traveling, and golfing. In 1974, she earned her private pilot’s license and was the only female member of the Agassiz Flying Club.

Pat was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church and was active in the choir and Altar Guild.

Pat’s life wasn’t without mischief though. She nurtured lifelong friendships with her childhood and high school friends and other men and women in Herman. She and her group of comrades found ways to have lots of fun and live life with zest.

From the oldest niece to the youngest nephew (tolerating their parents), Pat’s family was where her heart lay. Concerts, plays, games and programs were priority events. Nothing made her happier than when she was spending time with family, particularly the youngest members. Hosting coffee after/before Sunday services gave Pat the opportunity to “check in” on everyone and is a tradition that continues. Friends were great but family was everything.

Pat continued on her life adventure when she went to meet Jesus on April 16, 2019. There is no doubt that she is working on some volunteer project for Him or organizing a gathering of saints. She is now free from the dementia that had recently hid that vibrant sister and aunt and friend from those who knew her. We celebrate this day.

Patricia is survived by five siblings: June Vipond of Alexandria, MN; Connie (Dale) Johnson of Herman, MN; Karen (Gene) Sullivan of Houston, TX; Rick (Gail) Sjoquist of Burnsville, MN; and Cheryl (Jerry) Haukos of Alexandria, MN; nieces and nephews: Cindy (Sylvan) Prothero; Jim (Kris) Vipond; Kim (Doug) Oachs; Jody (Doyle) Sperr; Jay (Sandy) Sheets; Gary (Kris) Vipond; Sonja (Tony) Brown; and Stacy (Heidi) Wirtjes; and many great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and Hazel (Peterson) Sjoquist; and brothers-in-law: Dean Sheets, Dale Vipond and Dewey Berg.