Patricia Arlene Gilderhus

 Patricia Arlene Boone Gilderhus was born March 3, 1944, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Chessle and Beverly Means Boone. She was baptized and attended First Lutheran where she was confirmed and later married in Albert Lea. Growing up, Patty and her family spent a lot of time with cousins on the Means side every weekend. She then met Thomas Gilderhus at the restaurant where she was his breakfast waitress. The two were married January 19, 1964, and his family was thrilled that he had finally found someone. They welcomed Nancy Kay in October of 1964 and the twins Scott Alan and Jon Thomas in August of 1968. The twins were such a surprise they decided that they were done having kids, and the boys kept them busy for many years. As a family of five they spent a lot of their weekends with cousins and siblings. In 1972, they packed up and moved to Spencer, Iowa where Pat spent the rest of her days. In 1987, the next phase of her adulthood began when she became a loving grandparent. Tom and Pat were blessed with 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Affectionately known as Honey or Grandma Hus, you would find her ordering pizza and chinese when the kids would come and stay. She was a very talented seamstress and crafter that passed her love of creating onto all of her grandchildren in some way. She would often make each grandchild a pair of pajamas for Christmas, until they all got to be different sizes and she switched to making them quilts. You would also see Pat supporting her grandchildren in all of their sporting events and plays for school as well as Jimmy and his racing adventures. Pat looked forward to June when she would settle into lake life for two weeks at Lake Hubert in Minnesota. She loved to fish, sunbathe, spy on loons, and watch the sunsets. Pat was an avid Pepsi supporter along with card games, General Hospital, and Nintendo. Within the last 7 years she enjoyed cuddling and watching her great grandchildren come and play.

     Pat passed away in her apartment surrounded by her family on April 25, 2024. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Pat was survived by her children: Nancy and Jim Mills, Scott and Tami Gilderhus, Jon and Heather Gilderhus Grandchildren: Katie (Nathan) Mader, Molly (Ryan Hudson) Mills, Jessica (Nathan) Lambert, Emily (Travis) Olson, Tyler Gilderhus, Grace Gilderhus (Lucas Draffen), Sarah Gilderhus, and Addison Gilderhus (Scott Schonts). Great Grandchildren: Stella and Everett Mader, Olivia and Axel Olson, Lillian Gilderhus, Henry Lambert, and Hadlee Hudson.  Brother Dennis (Becky) Boone and sister Connie Wadding.

     She was preceded in death by: her parents Chessle and Beverly Boone, her husband Thomas Gilderhus, sister Annette Hagen, granddaughter Lily Gilderhus, mother-in-law Myrtle Lee Gilderhus.