Patricia Anderson

Patricia Ann (Ross) Anderson was born December 15, 1946 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She took her last breath and soared to Heaven on the wings of angels June 5, 2013 in St. James. She was the second eldest of 5 children born to William Ross Sr. and Agnes Eldora (Johnson) Ross. During Pat''s childhood, the Ross family traveled to Grandpa and Grandma Johnson''s farm in Watonwan County every August. The trip took 3 days with few stops, no air conditioning and 5 kids in the back seat. It was during these annual trips where Pat met Merle in early childhood on the farm. Pat graduated from High School in 1964, and went to work for the CIA''s Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She remained there until her marriage to Merle in 1970, when she traded big city life for farm life in rural St. James. Merle and Pat lived and raised their children, Chet and Cathy, on that farm, harvesting crops and farrowing pigs. Pat was a stay-at-home mom until the children were in middle school, when she took employment at United Methodist Church, then First National Bank, in St. James, and the Ormsby State Bank in Ormsby. In 1995, Merle and Pat sold the farm and retired to St. Cloud, where Pat found employment at Klein''s Landscaping, Wal-Mart Pharmacy, and finally Lynn''s Tax Service. In 2007, Pat was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. It is a chronic illness with no cure. Her life changed drastically, and her days were filled with many procedures, surgeries and doctor visits. In 2008, Merle and Pat moved back to Watonwan County to their retirement farm north of Odin, MN to be near friends and family. Pat lived her life in a positive manner and gave little indication of how difficult her illness was. She took great pride in the many accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader, cook and baker until her illness prevented her from participating in the things she so loved. She was grateful to be living back on the farm near family and friends in her last years. She was a caring, gentle, generous person who had kind words for everyone. Pat is survived by husband Merle of St. James, son Chet and his wife Amy, their children Jordan, Noah and Hunter, of Maricopa, Arizona, and daughter Cathy, her children Cody and Christina, of Mankato , MN. Pat is also survived by siblings William (Marilyn) Ross, Bob (Irma) Ross, Rebecca Ross, Brad (CJ) Ross, brother-in-law Neil (Betty) Anderson, sister-in-law Corrienne Anderson, brother-in-law Russell Anderson, and brother-in-law Clifford (Marian) Anderson. She is preceded in death by her parents. Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday, June 10, 2013 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 7:00 pm Monday, June 10, 2013 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Kansas Lake Cemetery RR 2 Butterfield, Minnesota, United States 56120