Rosella Ann Patten

Rosella A. Patten, of Bena, MN passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth MN, at 80 years of age.

Rosella Ann, daughter of Donald and Elizabeth “Betty” (Diebert) Dosch, was born on December 11, 1939 in Harvey ND. She was the oldest of four children. In 1944 the family moved to the Devils Lake ND area and purchased a small farm northeast of town, in the Rohrville area.  Rose attended country school from 1st through 6th grade, then attended 7th and 8th grades in Devils Lake. She then helped her parents on the farm for a couple years before beginning her first job as a waitress at a local Chinese restaurant in town, until it closed.-

Rose married Richard Perkuhn on June 4, 1960 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Devils Lake, ND. From this union there were born five children (3 girls and 2 boys). They divorced in 1971.

Rose was then employed at JC Penney’s and held several part-time jobs, including the Duke’s Club. She finished her general education at Lake Region Junior College in the late 1970s.

On August 9, 1980, Rose married Eugene Patten at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. They moved to Walden CO where Gene was manager of Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge from 1978 to 1998. While living in Walden, she enjoyed working at Jack’s Auto Parts, Timberline Building Supply, Jackson County Auditor’s office and Louisiana Pacific’s lumber mill in town. Rose loved volunteering for the community also. Whether it was donating her time to help with the Lion’s Club or making something for a fundraiser at school, she would help in any way that she could.

Rose and Gene moved to Minnesota in 1998 as Gene accepted the open position of Refuge Manager at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge in McGregor MN. They previously had purchased a retirement home near Bena MN. They fell in love with the area because it was close to several of their favorite fishing lakes. Rose never liked to be idle, so she worked part time at Teal’s Market in Cass Lake MN and at Birch Ridge Resort on Sucker Bay of Leech Lake MN along with cleaning a couple homes in the Sucker Bay area. She finally decided to retire in 2010 so that she and Gene could enjoy time traveling.

Rose and her husband became members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Cass Lake MN in 2001. They relished spending time with the congregation and listening to the meaningful sermons. Rose loved sharing some of her favorite recipes at the church’s potlucks and bake sales.

She could spend hours in both her vegetable and flower gardens. When Rose wasn’t attending to her gardens, she would sit to watch the birds. She especially loved the hummingbirds and Orioles (and an occasional bear) which frequented her bird feeders. She also enjoyed the challenges of finding that perfect fishing spot, but one of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren.

Rose is survived by her loving family including: husband Eugene (Gene) Patten; children: Brenda (Randy) Nelson of Devils Lake ND, Brian (Kim) Perkuhn of Devils Lake ND, Beverly (Mike) Bachmeier of Brocket ND, Sandra (Bill) Robinson of Helotes TX, and Todd (Michele Carroll) Perkuhn of Wellington CO; grandchildren: Shannon Drury of Devils Lake ND, Candace Perkuhn of Coon Rapids MN, Cayla (Todd) Klussman of Woodbury MN, Jerad (Jessica) Bachmeier of Brookston MN, Bryan (Tara Phillips) Bachmeier of Fargo ND, Ashli (Riley) Beck of Munich ND, Andrew Whalen of Fargo ND, and Austin Robinson of Helotes TX; great-grandchildren: Hunter and Zachary Drury of Devils Lake ND; Chase, Tyson and Chesney Klussman of Woodbury MN; Frankie and Parker Hines of Coon Rapids MN; Brooks Beck of Munich ND; and Vayla Rose Bachmeier of Brookston MN expected to arrive in March; sister: Victoria Bachmeier of Devils Lake ND; brothers: Joseph (Jeanette) Dosch of Hurdsfield ND and Dennis (LaVera) Dosch of Powers Lake ND; brother-in-law Roger (Cheryl) Perkuhn; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.

She was preceded in death by her father Donald, mother Elizabeth, father-in-law Clare and mother-in-law Berniece, sister-in-law Sharon Patten, and granddaughter Bobbie Jo Nelson.

Memorial services will be held Friday, January 24, 2020 at 11:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake MN with Pastor Amanda Kossow officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00am until time of service. Burial will be at a later date in Woodville Cemetery, Waseca MN. 

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the American Kidney Fund, Trinity Lutheran Church WELCA, or Miller-Dwan Foundation, Duluth.

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