Eldon D. “Bus” Patterson, 85, of Bowman passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at his daughters Karla and Monty’s home on Hospice care in Bismarck.
Funeral Services for Bus were on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Bowman Lutheran Church. Pastor Mark Nygard will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. Visitation for Bus was from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 at the Krebsbach Funeral Home Chapel with the family being present around 7 p.m.
Eldon “Bus” D. Patterson was born on May 27, 1931 in Bowman, the son of Bert H. and Myrtle (Thompson) Patterson, the seventh of nine children. He graduated from Bowman High School in 1949. He worked for his father at the Ford Garage part time growing up and continued his employment there after graduation, albeit fulltime then. He married Zona Brown Patterson in 1950 and they later divorced in 1982. Five children were born to this union. Bus and his brother-in-law, L.D. Crocker, purchased the car dealership from his dad, Bert H. in 1961. They owned and operated Bowman Sales and Services until his retirement in 1989 at which time the business was sold. Bus was a very proud father. He remained active and involved in his children’s lives, cheering on their accomplishments, comforting broken hearts, teaching important lessons and often helping with his children’s needs. When they were young, he would place a chair in the hallway between all of the bedrooms and sing them to sleep at night.
Car trips, long and short, were almost always spent singing together. Bus’ stories (often fabricated, always exaggerated) would cause his young childrens’ tears to flow and they would sob over how sad the stories were; so therefore, his childhood was sad. As each child got older and realized those stories weren’t real, or at least not completely true, each kept silent until all knew his secret. He enjoyed poetry and read for himself and also read to his family. He delighted in each new grandchild and great grandchild and continued with songs and games with them as they have grown. Bus was a well liked, well respected businessman in the community. He remembered names and places always and could recite a vehicles VIN number from memory, correctly each time he sold a car or pick up. He had a ready smile, often a joke or story to share and a firm handshake. He was active in community and civic affairs. He was a life-long member of Bowman Lutheran Church. Bus was also a member of Masons for many years. He enjoyed the brotherhood of this organization and fulfilled each of his roles, including Grand Master faithfully.
He was a Bowman County Commissioner for 12 years. It was a position he was proud to have been elected to for 3 terms and a responsibility he took very seriously. He knew and understood the people and the needs of Bowman County. Sports were always an important and large part of his life. As a high school athlete, he was an outstanding basketball player but baseball was always his 1st love. He treasured his memories of playing on a Bowman Blue Sox team that included is father and all 3 of his brothers. Bus also enjoyed bowling and was in a league for many years; he played golf and enjoyed a good game or two of pool. He looked forward to fishing and hunting with family and friends, regaling them with stories and jokes. He and his family were often found playing pinochle as well. He remained a NY Yankees fan and Minnesota Vikings fan until his death. Traveling was an important part of his life. When his children were very young, he always arranged a long vacation and several short ones each year until they were grown. While they often ended up corralling, chasing or direction the children, these trips were a favorite family activity. Bus also enjoyed many trips with Linda Martin, his soul mate of 45 years. When she purchased a condo in Bismarck, he left Bowman and moved with her. They were able to spend 2 winters in Arizona together and Bus loved being a “Snow Bird”. As his health failed, he was unable to accompany her south so he resided at Sunny Home Apartments for the winter. Bus is survived by his children; Candice “Candy” (Lonnie) Kulseth of Sheridan, Wyo., Janet Stockert of Bismarck, and Karla (Monty) Stack of Bismarck, daughter-in-law, Debbie Patterson of Bowman and son-in-law Tim Riegel of Bismarck, grandchildren; Ryan (Lisa Bolte) Riegel, Allison (Derek) Zylewicz, Paul Evans, Anika (Curt) Schaff, Eldon “Kyle” Kulseth, Rhonda (James) Holm; and seven grandchildren, Cole and Cayley Schaff, Alysia and Cannon Evans, Parker Schlenker, James and Benjamin Zylewicz, Ruby and Gabby Holm; two sisters, Gerri Solberg and Vi Homiston; soul mate Linda Martin and her son Kevin (Lori) Martin and her grandchildren, TJ, Brianna, Megan and Owen and many, many friends. Bus was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Dinah Riegel, son Bert A. Patterson, grandson, Caleb Schaff, five brothers, Butch, Henry, Les, Virgil and Curtis one sister, Bev Crocker.
Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services of Bowman was in charge of the arrangements.