1927
Patricia
2023
Patricia Giorgini
April 7, 1927 — November 25, 2023
Patricia Leslie “Pat” (Morken) Giorgini, age 96, died November 25, 2023, in St. Paul, MN. Born April 7, 1927, to parents Ethel Mae (Clarke) Morken and Alfred Sigvart Morken at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake, ND, and named to honor deceased uncle Leslie Morken, her first few years were on the move in northwestern Minnesota.
In 1933, the family settled in Fergus Falls, MN. During those early years, she made mud pies, helped around the house, and yet had the sense to avoid climbing onto the roof of a neighbor’s house on a dare. She attended the Madison, Adams, and Lincoln schools in Fergus before entering high school.
Pat was active at Fergus Falls Senior High, participating in orchestra, band, student council, National Honor Society, and other groups.
Matriculating into Hamline University brought a great new group of friends. She was involved in the student senate and Panhellenic council. During the summers, she worked at the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. And on a ride back home to Fergus with one Hamline friend and two guys from the University of Minnesota, she had an inkling that one of those guys from the U might be “the one.”
After receiving her B.A. in 1949, Pat moved to Wadena, MN, to teach high school English. She later moved to the Anoka school district. But there was also wartime correspondence with “the one” who had entered the Navy and was off in Korea.
On October 24, 1953, after the Navy hitch ended, Pat married Norman L. Giorgini at Grace United Methodist Church in their hometown of Fergus Falls. They were off to a new life together, first in Kansas City and then St. Paul. Pat’s two most important values in life, home and family, were made real with activities in PTA, Cub Scouts, Brownies, the American Association of University Women, and, at one time or another, almost every available church committee. She loved family trips back to Fergus and spending time with family at the lake cabin. As a wife and mother, she supported her husband and children, and rejoiced in her family’s successes. She loved and exercised her role as “Mom” until her death.
Pat is survived by her children: Mark (Mendota Heights, MN), Lisa (Craig, Farmington, NY), and Jon (Spearfish, SD). Also, granddaughters Alyssa Christel (Farmington, NY), Andrea Herman (Dansville, NY), great-granddaughter Morgan Herman (Dansville, NY) and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by long-time Hamline friends Maxine Nelson (Peachtree Corners, GA), Phyllis Paulsen (Hutchinson, MN), and Monnie Berry (Alpharetta, GA), in addition to several long-time friends in the Twin Cities. Pat was predeceased by husband Norman L. Giorgini, parents Alfred & Ethel Morken, and favorite pets Nicky, Timmy, and Snowball.
Memorials may be sent to the pet sanctuary Home for Life, P.O. Box 847, Stillwater, MN 55082.
Private services and burial at St. Otto’s Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN.
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
In 1933, the family settled in Fergus Falls, MN. During those early years, she made mud pies, helped around the house, and yet had the sense to avoid climbing onto the roof of a neighbor’s house on a dare. She attended the Madison, Adams, and Lincoln schools in Fergus before entering high school.
Pat was active at Fergus Falls Senior High, participating in orchestra, band, student council, National Honor Society, and other groups.
Matriculating into Hamline University brought a great new group of friends. She was involved in the student senate and Panhellenic council. During the summers, she worked at the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. And on a ride back home to Fergus with one Hamline friend and two guys from the University of Minnesota, she had an inkling that one of those guys from the U might be “the one.”
After receiving her B.A. in 1949, Pat moved to Wadena, MN, to teach high school English. She later moved to the Anoka school district. But there was also wartime correspondence with “the one” who had entered the Navy and was off in Korea.
On October 24, 1953, after the Navy hitch ended, Pat married Norman L. Giorgini at Grace United Methodist Church in their hometown of Fergus Falls. They were off to a new life together, first in Kansas City and then St. Paul. Pat’s two most important values in life, home and family, were made real with activities in PTA, Cub Scouts, Brownies, the American Association of University Women, and, at one time or another, almost every available church committee. She loved family trips back to Fergus and spending time with family at the lake cabin. As a wife and mother, she supported her husband and children, and rejoiced in her family’s successes. She loved and exercised her role as “Mom” until her death.
Pat is survived by her children: Mark (Mendota Heights, MN), Lisa (Craig, Farmington, NY), and Jon (Spearfish, SD). Also, granddaughters Alyssa Christel (Farmington, NY), Andrea Herman (Dansville, NY), great-granddaughter Morgan Herman (Dansville, NY) and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by long-time Hamline friends Maxine Nelson (Peachtree Corners, GA), Phyllis Paulsen (Hutchinson, MN), and Monnie Berry (Alpharetta, GA), in addition to several long-time friends in the Twin Cities. Pat was predeceased by husband Norman L. Giorgini, parents Alfred & Ethel Morken, and favorite pets Nicky, Timmy, and Snowball.
Memorials may be sent to the pet sanctuary Home for Life, P.O. Box 847, Stillwater, MN 55082.
Private services and burial at St. Otto’s Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN.
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Patricia Giorgini, please visit our flower store.
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