Donna K Patterson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Donna K. Patterson Donna K. Patterson, age 87, peacefully passed from this world to a glorious new one on 8 June 2019 at her daughter’s home in Riverton, Utah. Donna, the seventh of eight children, was born on 2 July 1931 in Garland, Utah to Ralph M. and Lalove Archibald King. Her parents homesteaded a farm in Richfield, Idaho where she spent the majority of her formative years as a typical depression--era farm girl. She married R. Dean Benedict in 1947, and in very short order they became the parents of seven children. They moved to Pocatello, Idaho in 1955 where Dean established his medical practice. She and Dean divorced in 1960 leaving her with the challenges of being a single mother. She managed to make time to take classes in the drama dept. at Idaho State College which led to a call to be the drama director in her LDS congregation. She was very good at it, and her road shows always took first place. In 1981 she married Archie Badger Patterson who has been the love of her life. They lived in Oregon City for several years before relocating to LaGrande, Oregon where they resided for 27 years, They were active participants in their community, and they were devoted to their LDS faith. They served together in the California Ventura mission in 1994 and for several years they regularly traveled to serve in the Boise temple. Their lives have been examples of service and generosity. Donna never abandoned her central Idaho farm girl roots. She and Archie had a huge well-kept garden, honey bees, chickens and fruit trees. They were avid hunters and on two occasions they drove their trailer to Alaska to spend the summer fishing. Donna loved animals and trained one of the best trophy winning hunting dogs on record. She was a fabulous cook. She was also very talented in working with stained glass, and her art was admired by all. Before her passing, she made sure all of her children and grandchildren were presented with an artistic stained-glass creation. Her family was her pride and joy. She was always promoting gigantic family reunions and she knew her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren by name. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers: Roland King (who died of wounds sustained as a tank commander in France during WWII), Verl (Merlynn) King, Sterling (Aldean) King and Wendell (Mary) King. A sister, Ruby (Ray) Robinson, her oldest son, Timothy Dean Benedict, a granddaughter Mandi Hudson and a grandson, Matthew Benedict also preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Archie Patterson, her brother Jack (Susan) King and her sister Venna (Ralph) Riley. Children left to mourn her loss include: Kay Benedict (Daughter In-Law) of Magna, UT, James P. (Christy) Benedict of Hyde Park, UT; Russel K. (Maxine) Benedict and J. Stanley (Brenda) Benedict both of Rexburg, ID; Cynthia (Raymond) Capell of Riverton, UT; Lalove (Richard) Hilton, of Dillon, MT; Barbara Benedict of Cedar City, UT; Shari (Bruce) Ginther of Pasco, WA; John (Laura) Patterson of Oregon City, Sue Ann Patterson, and Jan Patterson both of Portland, OR. Her living posterity also includes 48 grandchildren, 125 great grandchildren, and 8 great- great grandchildren. There will be a viewing and a memorial service for family and friends at the LDS Stone Ridge Building, 12070 South Laurel Chase Drive Riverton, Utah at 3:30 p.m. on the 16th of June. There will be a viewing at 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral at 10 a.m. on the 18th of June near LaGrande, Oregon under the direction of the Loveland Funeral Chapel at the LDS Church at 11206 McAllister, Island City, Oregon followed by a luncheon. She will then be interred at the the Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 By-Pass, in Archie’s home town of Richland, Washington. Flowers can be sent to the Loveland Funeral Chapel at 1508 4th Street, La Grande Oregon.

Donna K Patterson

July 2, 1931 - June 8, 2019