Robert Patten

Parshall

Robert (Bob) Raymond Patten was born on June 6, 1931, to Raymond and Valborg (Skaar) Patten. He was raised on the family farm west of Plaza, ND, attended country school in Shell township, and graduated from Plaza High School in 1949. After attending North Dakota Agricultural College, Bob returned home and purchased his grandparents’ farm where he farmed and ranched until retiring at the age of 75. He remained living on the farm, which is now a Centennial farm, for the years to come.

Bob married LaVonne Westgard on June 7, 1953. They were married for over 70 years, deeply devoted to each other and to raising their four children.

Since childhood, Bob’s passion has been horses. He spent many years and derived great satisfaction from raising registered quarter horses.

He loved and had a special relationship with each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed attending their activities and used every chance to show them farm life with horses and pickup rides around the farm and to the pasture.

Bob was active in the Plaza community. He served on multiple boards including Plaza School District, Shell Township, and Farmers Union. He also served on the building committees for First Lutheran Church and the Plaza Community Mall; he was a long-time Mountrail County 4-H leader.

Robert passed away on February 4, 2024, at a Fargo care facility surrounded by his wife and children. He was a kind, fun-loving, generous man with a great sense of humor and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, LaVonne; children, Karen (Jerome) Schroeder, Dale (Joy) Patten, Brenda (Bob) Weisenberger, and Daryl (Cheryl) Patten; grandchildren: Jared (Beth), Jenna (Josh), Kendra (Lane), Austin (Kia), Megan, Elle, Samuel and Kate; great-grandchildren: Hannah, Grant, Emily, Carter and Jordan; sister, Judy Dietrich; brother, Gary Patten; and sisters-in-law, Connie Patten and Carol Evenson.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Phyllis Westgard and Doris Braaflat; and brother, Gordon Patten.

Visitation: Monday, February 12, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Plaza

Family Prayer Service: Monday, February 12, 2024, at 7 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Plaza

Funeral: Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Plaza

Interment: East Plaza Cemetery

In place of flowers – memorials preferred to First Lutheran Church of Plaza, Plaza Fire and Ambulance Department, or North Dakota 4-H Foundation

(Langhans Funeral Home, Parshall www.langhansfuneralhome.com)

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 10, 2024.