Patricia Magnuson

Patricia A. Magnuson, age 81, of Willmar, died Saturday morning, July 27, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 A.M., Tuesday, July 30, at Church of St. Mary in Willmar. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be sent to St. Mary's Foundation in Willmar, St. Joseph School in West St. Paul and St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.
(www.petersonbrothers.com)

Patricia Ann (Bauch) Magnuson was born March 9, 1932 in Sanborn, Minnesota, one of three children born to Herbert and Gertrude (Miesen) Bauch. Pat graduated from Sanborn High School in 1950. She attended the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph Minnesota and completed additional course work in the twin cities to become certified as a laboratory technician. She worked as a laboratory technician for nearly 40 years, beginning at the Willmar State Hospital, the Lakeland Clinic and finally at ACMC, where she worked until she retired in 1992. She met Bill Magnuson in 1954. They married on November 9, 1957 in Sanborn, Minnesota and enjoyed 56 wonderful years together. They had two children, Mary and Tom.
Pat loved life and lived in constant motion. She loved to cook, entertain, garden, travel and much to the delight of the Dayton Department store, shop. Pat discovered the Big Island of Hawaii in 1982 and she and Bill spent time there every winter until 2012. Pat became a member of the "Kona Kids", a group of cherished friends from around the country who met each year at the Keauhou Beach Hotel in Kona-Kailua.
Pat was a loving and devoted mother who loved spending time with her family. Her passion was her five grandchildren. Pat was an extraordinary Grandma, willing to drop everything to baby-sit, help care for a sick child or gently cradle a newborn. There wasn't a hockey game, swim meet, soccer game or baseball game she didn't attend. Rain, snow, distance or cold didn't matter. If a grandchild was participating, she was there.
Pat had an unwavering faith in God. She was a longtime and active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar and a strong supporter of catholic education.
She is survived by her husband, Bill of Willmar, two children, Mary (John Apitz) Magnuson of Mendota Heights and Tom (Deb) Magnuson of Mendota Heights and five grandchildren, Kaia, Andy, Aren, Nick and Zach. Also surviving is a brother, Paul (and Dianne) Bauch of Apple Valley, a sister, Mary (and Dick) Moore of Virginia, several nieces and nephews, and many close friends.