Merritt E. Patterson

New Underwood, SD

1934, 2748, Hazelrodt, Tom Berry, Tigerville, F-15,

Merritt E. Patterson, age 93, of Wall, died Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at the Clarkson Mt. View Health Care Facility in Rapid City.

Merritt E. Patterson was born September 7, 1911, in Gregory, South Dakota, the son of Cephas Dalton and Laura (Harvey) Patterson. When he was six months old, his family moved by covered wagon back to the homestead in the Lakeside area. He started school in the Lakeside area before the family moved to a farm near Owanka, where he finished grade school and attended high school. After his education, he worked on the railroad several summers and in 1932 he went to Wall to work.

He was united in marriage to Evelyn MacGregor on October 13, 1934. After their marriage, he worked for Alex MacGregor, joined the C.C.C., and worked for two years on the railroad at New Underwood, before coming back to help Alex on the farm. In 1946, he rented the farm from Alex, and in 1951 he purchased the farm. Merritt and Evelyn continued to live and work on the farm, as well as remain very active in numerous activities and organizations in the Wall community. Merritt and Evelyn were the first recipients of the Wall Booster Club Award.

Merritt's wife Evelyn preceded him in death on September 28, 1994. After his wife's death, Merritt continued to reside on the farm.

Merritt was a member of the Wall United Methodist Church where he served as chairman of the Building Committee when the new church was built. He was a member of the Crescent Lodge A.F. & A.M., serving on the building committee when the Temple was built. He was a past Master of the Lodge and several times served as Patron of the Wonderland Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.

Grateful for having shared his life include four sons and their families; Gene Patterson and his wife Rita of Wall, and his children Dawn and Matt Nagel and their son Cody of Fairview, South Dakota, and Kent and Elizabeth Patterson and their sons Nicholas, Noah, and Braden of Waseca, Minnesota, Mark Patterson and his wife Jennifer of Wall and their children Nathan and Meghan, her children Loren and Lisa Kasuske of Rapid City and their children Justin, Katie, and Bryttini, Angela Pillatzki and her husband Keith of Brookings, and their children Emily and Jack, and Eric Kasuske and his wife Nadine of Rapid City, and their son Remington; Dean Patterson and his wife Marcine of Wall, and their children Scott Patterson of Chancellor, South Dakota, and Kevin Patterson and his wife Diana of Sioux Falls, and their daughter Dillan; Dale Patterson and his wife Barb of Wall, and their children Justin Patterson and his wife Teri of Rapid City, Sean Patterson and his wife Tara of Henderson, Nevada, Ryan Patterson and his wife Jessica of Hillsboro, Oregon and their children Kyra and Ayden, Dain Patterson and his special friend Lori of Henderson, Nevada, and Karmin Patterson and her special friend Todd of Lead; and Gale Patterson and his wife Karol of Wall, and their son Seth; a sister Zelda Greenwalt of Denver, Colorado; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to his wife Evelyn, Merritt was preceded in death by a great-grandson Trevor Patterson; two brothers Doland and Wayne Patterson; and four sisters Naida Greenwalt, Lola Flint, and Garnet and Mildred Patterson as children.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 5, at the United Methodist Church in Wall, with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. at the church.

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 6, at the United Methodist Church, with Rev. Brad Kattelmann officiating.

Interment with Masonic Rites by the Crescent Lodge #210 A.F. & A.M. was in the Wall cemetery.

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