Bernice Carol Patterson

Bernice C. Patterson, 82, of Rochester, died peacefully at St. Marys Hospital on Saturday, August 15, 2015.We are blind-sided by her passing just 3 days after a surprise diagnosis of non-alcoholic HCC liver cancer.Because she was at peace with death and ready to be with God, we gave her our blessing to leave us now, because mom is always right. Bernice Carol Olson was born March 2, 1933 in rural Hartland, Minnesota to Narvin and Gunda Olson.She graduated from Ellendale High School in 1951 and received her 3 year RN diploma from Naeve School of Nursing in Albert Lea, MN in 1954.She loved working as an operating room nurse throughout her career, retiring in 1983.She enjoyed sewing, crocheting (especially scrubbies), doing crossword puzzles, and volunteering at the Senior Center. She also enjoyed watching the Twins and Vikings on TV.She married Kenneth L. Patterson on June 1, 1957.They were married for 48 years until Ken passed away in 2006. Bernice is survived by her 4 children; 2 daughters: Cynthia (Reed) Nordyke of Rochester, Peggy Patterson of Rochester; 2 sons: Steven (Teresa) Patterson of Sioux City, IA, and Roger (Nicole) Patterson of Phoenix, AZ; 2 sisters: Lorraine (John) Lent of Owatonna, MN and Nadine (Dale) Strenge of Geneva, MN; 6 grandchildren: Andrew (Jenny) Beekman, Scott (Sovanna) Beekman, Troy (Janelle) Beekman, Kayla, Jessica, and Bryce Patterson, and 4 great-granddaughters (Hannah, Emma, Summer, and Eleanor Beekman).She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, parents, and a brother Ellsworth Olson. She was a kind, caring, giving, and friendly woman.She gave frequent hugs and expected double in return.She is also survived by a wide range of special friends from her neighborhood, the Senior Center crochet group, Grief Support, and the church.She is a long-standing member of Hope Summit Christian Church.Visitation will be at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home Thursday August 20 from 4-8PM.The funeral will be at Hope Summit Friday August 21 at 1PM, followed by refreshments.We respected her wish to be cremated.There will be no reviewal.A private burial will be at Concord Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Rochester Senior Center. She will be loved and missed forever.