Patch, Merna Virginia (1938-2023)

PATCH, MILLER, KRINGEN

Posted By: C Tucker (email)
Date: 7/26/2024 at 15:41:42

Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Williston, North Dakota

MERNA VIRGINIA (MILLER) PATCH

Merna Patch, 85, long time Trenton area resident, passed away at the Tioga Long Term Care Center in Tioga, North Dakota on Saturday evening, October 7, 2023. Her Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Williston. Rev. Ross Reinhiller will officiate. Interment in Trenton Cemetery will follow the service. Visitation will be at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home on Friday, October 13, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Saturday.

Merna Virginia Miller was born on April 5, 1938, in Marshalltown, Iowa to Bryan Randolph and Norma (Kringen) Miller. Her early years were spent in Marshalltown. She graduated from Marshalltown High School (where her father was high school principal) on May 31, 1956. She graduated from Marshalltown Community College in May 1958. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa on June 4, 1961, with a BME (Bachelor of Music Education) degree and then taught elementary vocal music in Cherokee, Iowa for one year. After her father died in August of 1962, she moved with her mother and brother Donald to Fargo, ND where she graduated from Interstate Business College in August 1963. She worked as a secretary for eight coaches in the athletic department at NDSU for one year. In July 1964 the family moved to Williston, ND. She worked as a legal secretary for Bjella, Jestrab, Neff & Pippen for two years and later as secretary for the president of American State Bank for two years.

She married Walter “Bud” Patch on June 26, 1965, in Williston and they moved to their farm in Buford township southwest of Trenton, ND where they raised their two sons Randy and Dwight. Bud and Merna always raised a big flower and vegetable garden each year and did a lot of canning and freezing of their produce. In July of 1971 she became clerk (later changed to business manager) for Eight Mile School District in Trenton, a position she held for 36 years. She was also the choir accompanist during these years. She dearly loved this job and the people and students she worked with. She retired in August 2007. Later she was business manager for WILMAC Special Education in Williston for 3 years until declining health forced her to retire in 2012.

Music was a very important part of her life. She was the organist and choir accompanist at First Union Church and Faith Methodist Church in Williston for many years; and also played piano and organ for several other churches in town. She was a member of Thursday Musical Club for 50 + years. She played violin with the Williston State College orchestra for several years. She also played violin in the adult camp at International Music Camp for 10 years and in 2007 and 2010 she played a piano concerto with the camp orchestra. The most memorable trips she got to take were to Norway in June 1975 and to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia in July 1976. She was a member of Bicentennial Festival '76 from Williston and surrounding areas, singing in the choir and playing two piano duets with her best friend Mary Christine Larson. This was a group of 200 choir and band members and dancers who were designated the state representatives to bring music to Norway (it was the 200th anniversary of the first Norwegian settlers to come to America) and to represent North Dakota at our nation’s bicentennial on July 4, 1976. The group performed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. While in Norway she got to meet several of her cousins and saw the house where her grandfather Peder Kringen was born. She was grateful for her parents who raised her in the Christian faith. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church (first in Marshalltown, Iowa and later in Williston).

Merna is survived by her sons Randy and Dwight (Shelli); grandchildren Jack, Kailee, Zak & Kenzie; and brother Donald. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Bud.