Cover photo for Elva Marion (Patterson) Gunkel's Obituary
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1924 Elva 2011

Elva Marion (Patterson) Gunkel

April 28, 1924 — April 28, 2011

Elva (Patterson) Gunkel, 87, of Page, ND, slipped quietly from us on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Villa Maria, Fargo, ND. Elva Marion Frost was born April 28, 1924 to Robert F. and Dorothy E. (Elliot) Frost in Silver Park, Saskatchewan, Canada. She attended school in Pekin, ND and McVille, ND. She left school at a young age, working locally and then in Fargo. In January, 1945 she married Clarence E. Patterson and together they had one son, Murray. They lived and farmed at Page. Clarence died on April 28, 1964. Elva married Ernst M. “Tike” Gunkel on February 2, 1968 and they lived and farmed at Page until their retirement. Elva was an active member of the Page United Methodist Church. She served on the church board in several capacities, United Methodist Women, taught Sunday school and VBS over 50 years and sang in the church choir. After retirement, Elva and Tike discovered a shared passion for archaeology, going on summer digs sponsored by the Corps of Engineer. They loved to travel during the winter, especially to Arizona and Texas. Elva was an amazing hostess as she loved to care for, bake, and cook for her family and friends. The coffee was always on and a game of cards, aggravation or dominoes soon followed. Elva enjoyed their life on the farm and working in the yard, her flowers and her large garden. Elva is survived by her husband, Ernst “Tike” of Page; son, Murray (Pearl) Patterson; three grandchildren, Keith Patterson, Brian (Shaundra Stam) Patterson, and Tim Patterson; one great-granddaughter, Piper Stam-Patterson, all of Fargo; two sisters, Ellen “Curly” Christopher of Salt Lake City, UT and Viola (John) Schneider of Devils Lake, ND; half sister, Janice Johnson of Valley City, ND; sisters-in-law, Elsie “Pat” Mueller of Rapid City, SD, Jean "Curly" (Abbott) Grant of Oklahoma City, OK, and LuElla “Lollie” Gunkel of Fargo, ND; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Clarence; wonderful and caring foster parents, Donald and Pauline Baldwin; half-sister, Ida Karn; and granddaughter-in-law, Monica Patterson. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the mission fund at Page United Methodist Church, or the North Dakota Diabetes Association. Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Monday, May 2, 2011 at United Methodist Church in Page, ND. Visitation: 2-4 PM with a prayer service at 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at United Methodist Church in Page, ND, and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial: Page City Cemetery.
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