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Kay Johnson (El Paso, TX)
Sep 6, 2022

Dear Patten Family, My heart breaks for you all with the passing of Gordy! He was a great music teacher and touched so many lives in his years of teaching. Sending love, hugs and prayers to you all!

Karen Davies (Stanley , ND)
Sep 6, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of Gordy's passing. Always such a nice man - I'll never forget him teaching me how to cook at Patten's Post. And how much he loved it when the bus loads of kids would stop for food! Great memories. My deepest sympathies to all of the family

Julie & Jason Fulton (Stanley, ND)
Sep 6, 2022

When Jason and myself were in high school in New Town. Gordy got to be our music teacher. It was one of the best memories that both Jason and myself have. He had a great sense of humor and made learning a blast...He will be greatly missed.. But his memories will last Jason and my life time. Thank you Gordy for the great memories and teaching us that learning can be fun....

Jodi Enge Haas (Ashley, ND)
Sep 6, 2022

I'm sorry to hear of Gordy's passing. I loved working for him at Patten's Post! He loved the busses, always managed to scoot us to the fries while he did the grill! I'm sorry for your loss Connie & families

D'ann Riley (Smyrna, Delaware)
Sep 8, 2022

Dear Patten Family, so sorry to hear of Gordon's passing. He's always been Mr. Patten to me, because I didn't know him outside the classroom. (Mid to late 60's in Velva) Great memories of those music classes. Blessings to your family.

Jeffery Herman (Bismarck, ND)
Sep 8, 2022

Dawnelle, and the Patten Family, my sincerest condolences with Gordy's passing. God Bless and Godspeed.

Jan Wunderlich (Grand Forks, ND)
Sep 8, 2022

Very sorry to hear of Mr. Patten's passing. Mr. Patten was my music teacher in Velva. He always inspired me to be the best I could be. A truly gifted music teacher. He will be missed.

Kim Schmidt
Sep 12, 2022

Sending love and prayers to the family. He was my band and choir teacher in Stanley. He was enthusiastic, fun and very passionate about music. My condolences.

Ronna Masteller (Pierre, SD)
Sep 12, 2022

You were a great teacher even in business I learned a lot from you and thought of you and Connie often. We served many a bus loads of kids after games. It wasn't just a job it was fun learning

Suzie Kramer-Brenna (Moorhead, MN)
Sep 12, 2022

Patten Family,
I am so very sorry to hear that Gordy died. He was a wonderful teacher, bringing so much joy and enthusiasm to Stanley’s music education and performances.
One of my favorite memories is my Senior year when the Chorus took part in the regional music event in Crosby. There were so many of us, we couldn’t fit on the stage and had to fill rows of seats in the front of the auditorium, turning around to sing to the audience. We took first place in that event.
Please know that Gordy touched so many student’s lives (including my own) and he holds a special place in our hearts.

Lynette McDowell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Sep 12, 2022

I remember the 74-75 or 75-76 school year (could have been both) when Mr. Patten got lots of the football players to join the choir, and they convinced many others to do the same. Practically the whole high school was in choir and it was awesome! No doubt one of the best high school choirs in the state at that time! I'm sure other schools definitely did think choir was required in Stanley. lol

I'll always be grateful to Mr. Patten for moving his family to Stanley because his daughter became one of my dearest and most fun friends! My sincere condolences to you, Dawnelle, and all your family!

Vern and Annetta Jutila (Surprise, AZ)
Sep 12, 2022

Prayers to all the family, if you met Gordy you were a friend and his winning smile said it was true. Great next door neighbors in Velva . Many happy memories from those days .

Terence Jutila (Golden Valley, Minnesota)
Sep 12, 2022

My memories of Gordy are from velva when i was a kid, he was a great neighbor and a happy adult. My prayers and thoughts are with all of the family.

Sara Goodman (Bowbells, North Dakota )
Sep 12, 2022

So sorry to hear this… Mr. Patten taught us marching band in Bowbells and we all loved every minute of it!! Such a wonderful guy!! Hugs and prayers to his family!!

Julie Kudrna (Gulf Breeze, FL)
Sep 12, 2022

I am so sorry for your loss.

Beth Millage-Curtis (Enerson) (Bethel, MN)
Sep 13, 2022

I’m sad to hear of Mr. Patten’s passing, but I know he lived a full life. Mr. Patten was my band and choir teacher for most of my school years (graduated SHS 1998). I have always loved music, but he really brought this out in me and all his students. He was a talented singer and musician, but his skills didn’t end there. He also owned a restaurant/hotel, and my Grandma and I had many delicious meals there while awaiting various school activities. He also was a wonderful family man and volunteered a great deal at his church.

He taught me to play the clarinet in grade school. I still have it, but haven’t yet made my goal to play “Flight of the Bumblebee” as well as him. He helped me sing in larger ranges with more confidence as a soloist or in a group, and encouraged a group of us to play lovely baroque music with our recorder group. All of my memories from that time include Mr. Patten, with his positivity and encouragement keeping us all striving to improve as musicians and people.

I haven’t been able to see him in years, but I feel he’s still with me. I’m going to try to get back to playing music more in his honor. I wish his family peace and send condolences for their loss. He truly helped me learn the value of improving one’s self and finding out gifts to share with others.

Dawnelle Patten Peterson (Gilbert , Az)
Sep 13, 2022

Thank you to all who have reached out to us and for writing such kind messages here about dad. It is fun to read your personal memories of him. He is, and will always be dearly missed. Thank you, also for your sympathies, love & prayers. Even if I did not know you personally, please know it means a lot to me and all of dad’s family.

Kelly Gleave (West Fargo , ND)
Sep 13, 2022

Very sad to here that Gordy has passed !! Our thoughts and prayers are with the family !! I always enjoyed visiting and teaching with Gordy in the good old days !! May all the good memories help you through this time of loss !!!

Dawnelle
Sep 13, 2022

Kind of blurry but at the piano was a happy place!

Memories

Denny Jessen (Moorhead , MN)
Sep 14, 2022

Cheryl and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Gordy. We always considered him to be a friend back in our Stanley days. I also had the privilege of coaching his children Kelly and Cammy. We will always remember Gordy directing the band on the stage at Basketball games.

Brenda (Woessner) Benth (Williston , ND)
Sep 14, 2022

Patten Family, so sorry for your loss.
Gordon was a wonderful music teacher, band and choir at Stanley High School. I truly enjoyed the classes.

Luanna (Pick city, Nd)
Sep 21, 2022

Our deepest sympathy to the family. My mom was Cheryl Patten Holst, Gordy’s cousin.

Heather Olson Collins (Lower Brule , SD)
Sep 24, 2022

Amazing and enduring Velva memories of Mr. Patten in band, chorus, Pjs Ensemble, Hello Dolly, and at Oak Valley Lutheran The Seven Last Words of Christ. We were so blessed and the world is a better place because of the gifts he shared. May God's peace surround you as you remember him. Thanks be to God.

Michael S Estvold (Parshall, ND)
Sep 28, 2022

our sympathies to Connie and the family. Penny and I always enjoyed out time playing with Gordy. Each time I play I think of some tip he gave to help me be a better player. Sorry we won't be here for the service.

Jason Rygg
Sep 28, 2022

Gordon Patten was my cooperating teacher while I was in undergrad at Minot State University. He taught and lived in Stanley and was about ready to retire when I started with him. He was looking for somebody to come in and "learn the ropes" enough to take over the program the following year. He was the best. Everyone loved him, he found ways to bring out the best in everybody.

I will always be indebted to him for his humor, his wit, and his wisdom. He probably forgot more about teaching than I've ever learned, but he made me feel like I could do it. He was such a great encourager of others.

Gordy, rest easy. I am so much better off for having known you. I know there are probably thousands of people who could say the same. Thank you for sharing your love of music with so many people, both young and old. Thank you for all the things you were and all the things you weren't. Your positive impact is without measure. It will go on forever in the lives of everyone you changed along the way.

Russ Panko (Spanaway , WA)
Sep 28, 2022

Judy
So sorry to hear about your brother
May God bless

Cammy Hornbacher (Bismarck, ND)
Sep 29, 2022

Gordy was such dear and loved music teacher to so many. I was so fortunate to have him as MY music teacher-he touched so many lives with his enthusiasm, warmth and caring. It was such an honor to have him and Stan play for our wedding dance- what a treat! It was also a delight to see and hear him and Stan play at governors mansion for their summer social, in later years. Our deepest sympathies to you all.

Jolyn Wood (Clark) (Post Falls , Idaho )
Sep 29, 2022

Dear Patten family, I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Patten. He was such a positive musical influence on me during the years he taught at Midway Highschool. He always encouraged his students to strive for the best they could be. He encouraged me to learn a second instrument, the French horn, which I loved and played into my college years. He encouraged me to give piano lessons, which I did and had 3 students, 2 of them were his daughters Cammy and Dawnelle! I loved being in the marching band, especially when we did really cool formations to the song "Cab Driver"! I will never forget his saying "if you can talk, you can sing"! I have shared that with many people through my years as a singer with the Sweet Adelines. He also taught a number of students to play tennis the first summer he came to Midway, and I enjoyed the sport well through my college years. My family enjoyed the company of the entire Patten family and shared numerous lake outings and picnics. Our hearts go out to you during this time. Jolyn Clark Wood, Dick and Phyllis Clark

Fulkerson - Stevenson Funeral Home