Patricia Papacek

Patricia A. Papacek, 65, passed away on Friday, December 3 in her Fargo ND home, under the loving care of her family and Hospice. Pat was born September 1, 1945 to Frank and Gladys Murphy in Dickson, ND and spent the first five years of her life in western North Dakota where her father worked as a grain elevator manager and her mother, a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1950 her family moved to Bismarck and Pat would go on to graduate from St. Mary’s Central in 1963, where she met her husband of 43 years, Jim. Academics always played an important role in Pat’s life and after high school she went on to the College of St. Catherine where she received, with honors, a teaching degree in French. During her graduate studies at the University of Kansas, Pat also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1969 Pat went to work teaching French at South High School in Fargo, ND where she stayed for the length of her professional career, sharing a love for cultural exploration and diversity. While at South High Pat led several student trips to France, which inspired many to go on to study, live, and work overseas. One of Pat’s biggest joys in life was spending time outside in her garden. During the winter she would plan what flowers she would plant and then in spring and summer, she would be outside for hours at a time. Pat is preceded in death by her father and mother, as well as her aunt and uncle, Irene and Jack Tylenda Pat is survived by her husband Jim, her son Jay and his wife Sara (Minneapolis), and by a loving extended family of brothers and sisters in law, along with many nieces and nephews. She was beloved by her family and will be missed greatly. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Red River Valley. Funeral Service: Friday, December 10, 2010, at 2:30 PM, at Nativity Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Thursday, December 9, 2010, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND, with a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.