Patricia Swanson

Swanson was born August

26, 1939, in Minot, ND, to

Ted and Nellie (Davis)

Pfau. Pat grew up on the

Pfau family farm in Up-

ham, ND, where she spent

her days milking cows,

helping her dad in the

field, and playing with

her cousins. Life on the

farm is where Pat found

her intense work ethic

and love of family.

Pat attended the rural

school in Upham before

attending Upham High

School, graduating in

1957. She went on to earn

her Bachelor’s degree in

Education from Minot

State University and her

Master’s degree from the

University of North Dako-

ta. Pat’s teaching career

spanned 43 years and she

never missed an oppor-

tunity to learn or to teach.

On June 9, 1962, Pat

married the love of her

life, Arvin Swanson. The

two shared a beautiful 58

years of marriage and had

one daughter, Michelle.

Family always came first

and Pat never missed a

birthday, graduation, or

wedding for any one of

her siblings, nieces,

nephews, grandkids,

great-grandkids, or the

friends she considered

family.

Upon retiring from

teaching in 2002, Pat and

Arvin began their life as

snowbirds, splitting their

time among North Dakota,

Texas, and Arizona. Every

spring when it was time

to return to North Dakota,

they would travel a new

route that always includ-

ed visits to family and

friends. Together, they

visited 38 states across the

U.S. pulling their RV the

entire way.

Pat passed away on

September 25, 2020. She

is survived by her hus-

band Arvin; her daughter

Michelle Bachmeier

(Monte Heinemeyer);

granddaughter Mary

(Jacob) Woinarowicz;

grandsons Adam Bach-

meier (Maya Davis) and

Benjamin Bachmeier;

great-grandkids Cayden,

Harper and Rylan

Woinarowicz; sisters

Kathie Thompson, Jeanell

(Bruce) Nelson; brother

Ted (Dolly) Pfau; and

many nieces and

nephews. She is preceded

in death by her parents

Ted and Nellie Pfau and

mother and father-in-law

Albin and Iva Swanson.

A private service will

be held at Zion Lutheran

Church, Bismarck, with a

live stream starting at 1:00

PM Monday, September

28, on Zion Lutheran

Church’s Facebook Page.

In lieu of flowers

memorials may be made

in Pat’s name to Minot

State University Founda-

tion – Elementary Educa-

tion Scholarship or to the

donor’s choice.

Go to www.bismarck

funeralhome.com to share

memories of Pat.