Patricia Darlene VanBenschoten
6/9/1944 – 1/8/2025
Patricia Darlene (Ellefson) VanBenschoten was born on June 9, 1944 to Ernest & Eleanor Ellefson in Pipestone, Minnesota and grew up on a farm near Sherman, South Dakota. “Patty Girl” was the fifth born, but first girl amongst the nine children.
Pat attended a one room schoolhouse close to the family farm through sixth grade. She graduated high school in 1962 in Garretson, SD. Her first job while in high school was with Bethany Home Assisted Living in Sioux Falls, SD. After high school, she attended the Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI) in Golden Valley, MN before attending the Swedish School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN.
After nursing for a while, Pat joined the Volunteers in Service to American (now known as AmeriCorps VISTA) in Arkansas where she helped under privileged Americans. Upon finishing her service, she became a private nurse to Mrs. Morris T. Baker. She really enjoyed this job as they traveled together, and it was on one of these trips that she met the love of her life, Jerry VanBenschoten.
Pat and Jerry said their “I Dos” in Miami, FL on August 8, 1974. Together they moved to Minnesota to be closer to Pat’s family and finally settled in Howard Lake. She continued her career at the 3M Factory in Hutchinson, MN until her retirement.
On October 15, 1981, Pat and Jerry welcomed their daughter Sara, who completed their family. She was overjoyed when her first grandchild, Nora, was born in 2015 and even more so when Jasper came along in 2019.
After 44 years in the family home, she moved into The Lodge of Howard Lake. She enjoyed spending time with her fellow residents and really felt at home. Her hobbies included spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening, bird watching, doing puzzles and reading her Bible.
Pat passed away unexpectedly on January 8, 2025 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.
Pat is survived by daughter Sara (Will) Selvidge, grandchildren Nora & Jasper, siblings Bob (Dorly) Ellefson, Luanne (David) Jorgenson, Nancy Corpe, Ruth Lindstrom, Connie Ellefson and many extended relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband Gerald and her siblings Jeff Ellefson, Dean Ellefson, Ron Ellefson and Lois Ellefson.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 PM, Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Living Waters Christian Fellowship (312 Pacific Ave) in Waverly, Minnesota with visitation one hour prior.