Donald Patterson

Donald Dean Patterson was born September 12, 1926, on the Patterson family farm in Guthrie County, Iowa, to Arden and Pearl (Neal) Patterson. His parents moved several times during his childhood, and Don grew up between the farm and several small towns. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1944, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was honorably discharged in August of 1946, and returned home to work with his father on the farm. In 1947, he enrolled at Iowa State College, Ames. He graduated in 1951, with a major in Agronomy. Upon graduation, Don began working at the Polk County Assessor’s Office as a soils specialist and personal property assessor. On June 1, 1953, he began work at the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at North Dakota Agricultural College, which later became North Dakota State University (NDSU). While working, Don earned the degree Master of Science in Economics at South Dakota State College, Brookings. At NDSU, he continued coursework toward a doctorate in soil science. He worked in the Soil Science department at NDSU until his retirement, as full professor, December 31, 1991. Don loved working outdoors and enjoyed traveling throughout the state of North Dakota classifying and mapping soils and talking with landowners about the best use of their land. He was one of the founding members of the Professional Soil Classifiers Association of North Dakota, and was appointed by the Governor to the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. In the course of his career, he assumed responsibility for the creation of a detailed soil map of the state of North Dakota. He dedicated countless hours of personal as well as professional time to this project, about which he cared deeply. Don met his wife, Gertrude, in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1954. Don and Gertrude were married September 13, 1958, and had one daughter, Lisa. Don was an avid curler and active member of the FM Curling Club. He was active in his church and served as secretary-treasurer, usher, and counter. He enjoyed traveling with Gertrude, wildlife- and bird-watching, music (especially jazz), and theatre. Don was a life-long shutter-bug (photographer), and never gave up the quest for the perfect camera lens. Despite his long-time residence in Fargo, Don's roots remained firmly planted in Iowa. Following his retirement from NDSU, he began research into Patterson family genealogy. Don is survived by Gertrude, his wife of fifty-one years, and his daughter, Lisa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arden and Pearl Patterson, several aunts, and an uncle. Funeral: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 2:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: One hour prior to services at the church. Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.