Patricia Shogren - Obituary

This is my first ever obituary.  It meant a lot for me to be able to honor my grandmother with it.

Patricia Joyce Shogren, 84, of Alexandria died on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Edgewater Vista Assisted Living.  Services are scheduled at 9:30 am Saturday at the New Life Christian Church in Alexandria.  Visitation will be held at the Anderson Funeral Home from 6-8 pm on Friday.

Floris & Lawrence Kloos welcomed Patricia (Pat) Joyce into the world on November 21, 1928 in Grant County, Minnesota.  While growing up on a farm, Pat grew to be a strong and hardworking woman, and she applied these traits to every aspect of her life.  She was educated at Roseville District #20 and graduated from Barrett High School.  Later, Pat attended Gustavus Adolphus College and also the Minneapolis Northwest Institute of Technology to receive a degree in medical technology.  She worked in both the Hoffman and Douglas County Hospitals.

On December 24, 1950, Patricia married Leslie Warren Shogren at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN.  Soon after they married, she was a naval wife living in Norfolk, Virginia. In the summer of 1954, she moved back to Alexandria. It was here that Pat and Les raised a rambunctious family of six with abundant laughter and abounding love.

Anyone who knew Pat knew her food.  She was an amazing cook and even took her talents to the kitchens of Clear Water Suites and Geneva Bible Camp.  Pat was also very active in her church as well as the Zetetic Club, FATS Club, and the Red Hat Society.  Quilting, especially with her family, was a favorite hobby of hers.  Pat was a fun loving person who was always on the go.  She frequently joined her children for memorable family vacations and road trips. 

Pat loved to dress fashionably, even when she was a child.  One of her favorite childhood memories came at the age of 10 when she received her first store bought coat.  The sparkly sequins that she often wore reflected her luminous personality.  Pat’s legacy will include her spunky and matter-of-fact disposition, but most of all, she will be remembered for her fierce love.  When Pat loved, she didn’t hold back, and her love and generosity will live on in the hearts of those she left behind.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sibling, her husband, Leslie Shogren, and her son, Peter Shogren.

She is survived by numerous people who love and will miss her.  Her children are Deb (Dan) Carlson of Brookings, SD; Jan (Rick) Banke of Alexandria, MN; Paul (Judy) Shogren of Moorhead, MN; Cindy (Dean) Kling of Fargo, ND; Lisa (Gene) Dela Cruz of Apple Valley, MN; and Daughter-in-law, Maridee Shogren, of Grandforks, ND.  Pat also had 20 grandchildren: Molly, Justin (Cassie), Brianne, Andrea (Austin), Jay (Kayla), Logan (Dani), Danielle (Drew), Lucas (Stephanie), Shelby, Meghan (Phil), Whitney, Tessa (Andy), Zachary (Anna), Mitchell, Payton, Arielle, Saree, Onalee, Mikki (Mike) and Jon, and 10 great grandchildren: Davin, Jaylin, Caleb, Blake, Reese, Hannah, Beckett, Brody, Haley, Canyon, and three more to be born in 2013.  She is also survived by her brother, Lawrence Kloos Jr of Hoffman and sisters, Mary Hanson of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Floris Ann Dawson of Caledonia, Ontario.