Geraldine Patchen, 87, Killdeer, died Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Hill Top Home of Comfort, Killdeer. Geraldine’s Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 19, 2021 at St. John Lutheran Church, Killdeer. Inurnment will take place at Oakdale Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Geraldine Burke was born on August 13, 1933 in Killdeer, the daughter of Henry Sylvester and Idah (Davis) Burke. Her parents divorced when she was five and her mother remarried Rueben Edwards, a carpenter who was a big, soft spoken, caring and kind man. He raised Jeri as her own and she loved her step-father very much. She was raised and educated in Killdeer and graduated from Killdeer High School. She went on to attend nurses training where she earned her RN degree.
Jeri was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Patchen on June 6, 1953 in Killdeer. She worked for many years as a nurse, worked for the legislature for a few years, as banquet manager for Seven Seas and hospitality for the Mandan Community Center.
Following retirement they moved to Killdeer and eventually to Hill Top Home of Comfort, considering all of them part of her family.
She loved to garden, especially flower gardens, enjoyed cooking and was very good at it. She loved her family and spending time with them, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jeri and Dick also loved spending time with Dick’s brother, Russ and his wife Mazie, along with great friends Jerry and Della Olson for many years.
Jeri is survived by children, Marc (Jolene) Patchen, Bismarck and Pam (Wayne) Hatzenbuehler, Solen; grandchildren, Shanna (Trent) Mills, Andrea (Don) Miller, Cole Hatzenbuehler, Lee Hatzenbuehler, Aaron (Annie) Patchen, Aubrey (Justin) Hall, and Tia Gregoryk; daughter-in-law, Janel Patchen; brother-in-law, Russ Patchen, Bismarck; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Connie Christianson, Stacy Minn.; niece, Kay Dolezal, Killdeer; good friends, Jerry and Della Olson; and ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; son, Rick Patchen; mother and step-father, Idah and Rueben Edwards; brother, Tommy Burke; sisters, Irene, Colleen, Magdeline and Alleyne.
