Virgil D Patterson, 84, Bowman ND died Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman ND after suffering from a massive stroke. Funeral Services are scheduled for Thursday morning September 29th at 10:00 am at the Bowman Lutheran Church. The Reverend Galen Strand and Reverend Charles Swanson will officiate with burial to follow the service in the Bowman Cemetery. A Family Service will be held Wednesday evening at 7:00 at the Kresbach-Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.

Virgil Patterson was born February 28, 1927 at Mobridge SD, son of Bert H and Myrtle Thompson Patterson. At a young age the family moved to Bowman where he was reared and attended school in Bowman. On April 17, 1946, Virg entered the United States Navy and served on the USS Mount Olympus which was a flagship for Operation Highjump, the Navy Antarctic Expedition. Virgil was honorably discharged on February 18, 1948. On July 3, 1950 Virg was united in marriage with Arlene (Punky) Hofland in Rapid City SD. They lived their entire live in Bowman where Virg worked for the United States Postal Service. In 1982, he retired from Postal Service after 32 years of service.

Virg was very sports minded and loved all sports. He played for the Bowman Blue Socks baseball team along with his brothers Bus, Butch and as his Dad. He loved to golf, play horseshoe, ping pong and basketball. He loved the game of pinochle and looked forward to going to the Crystal every morning for the games of the day.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years Punky, his parents, and brother Butch. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-laws, Pam and Joe Griffin, Scranton ND, Loree and Bill Cook, Williston ND, and Sandi and Layne Tivis Bowman ND, Jan Were and daughter Kelsey, Bowman ND whom he loved as his own daughter and granddaughter. Two brothers, Bus Patterson Bowman ND and Les Patterson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, three sisters, Bev Crocker, Rapid City SD, Geri Solberg, Grand Forks ND and Viola Homiston Watford City ND. Left to mourn are also his 6 grandchildren, Aimee and Brock Griffin, Michael Cook and Shawntai Hao, Corrie, Payton and Linsdey Tivis and great grandson Collin Cook.