In Memory

Patricia Osterberg (Margeson)

Patricia Osterberg (Margeson)

Patricia Osterberg Margeson passed away in early April of 2021.  She had come down with Lou Gehrig's Disease, which is a very rare disease afflicting perhaps only 20,000 people each year in the U.S.  She had been in treatment for the disease's symptoms, but there is no cure.  She had somehow come down with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease,) which is a progressive and fatal disease, attacking neurons that control voluntary movement. These neurons die over time. The result is the gradual loss of muscle movement, speech, swallowing, and eventually breathing.  Patty had been experiencing all of these symptons and was in substantial pain with her ALS symptoms as well and couldn't raise her head. Eventually, according to our classmate Mary Ann Jorgensen Kaufman, who was in contact with Patty during this time, she eventually found that Patty could no longer talk and couldn't eat either.  Her daughter, Lorie, flew in from San Diego, and was with her when she passed.  It was understood that Patty had already prepared to donate her body to the University of Minnesota, after which Lorie will sprinkle her ashes in one of Patty's favorite places -- Balboa Park, just outside San Diego, CA.  Patty had fallen in love with Balboa Park on her many visits there to see her one and only daughter.

Patty had been living in Cedar Wood Senior Assisted Living in St. Paul, having gone there to look after her mother, who had moved into that facility some years prior, but who had died about four years ago. The two of them had thereby formed a unique partnership in later life, and Patty continued to live there after her mother was gone. 

According to Mary Ann Jorgensen Kaufman, Patty visited Mary Ann's home often in Great Falls, Montana.  They had stayed in touch regularly since high school.  Patty came to develop some other friends there as well, and could be found helping remodel and repaint those friends' log cabins in the Bozeman area of Montana.  She loved working on the improvement of buildings that were the homes of her friends.

Shortly after high school Patty eventually found the love of her life, Terry Margeson, who she married.  According to our classmate, Steve Sjordal, Terry was one of several hot-rod afficianados, some in our own class, who Patty hung around with during our years just before and after our high school graduation.  Together, they had one daughter, Lorie, who lives with her own husband and has a granddaughter of her own in the San Diego area.  After about 20 years, although Patty and Terry divorced, with he remarrying, Patty stayed devoted to the romantic life she had with Terry and remained forever single thereafter.  Terry, it turns out, had just died in January of 2021, only a few months before Patty had succumbed to ALS.

Patty devoted her life to caring for animals, which she found to be not only fun, but lucrative as well.  She actually established a career in the business of caring for the pets of couples who went on ocean cruises.  Thereby, she earned a great deal of money over many years and which, since it was all paid in cash, allowed her to keep it all.  She used those funds to move into the Cedar Wood Senior Assisted Living facility for her remaining years.  What a lovely person she was.  Her devotion to the causes she found in life and which stirred her emotions is a remarkable example that we all should envy.

 



 
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04/04/21 11:08 AM #1    

Mary Reid (Brooks)

My thoughts of sadness for Pat's close friends and family. Pat had a beautiful, warm spirit, beautiful smile and twinkling eyes. So glad we visited at the 60th reunion.
Special thoughts and memories for you, Mary Ann, faithful friend.

04/12/21 01:02 PM #2    

Kurt Schleicher

Patty-Osterberg-Margeson
I remember Patty from I think around 9th grade, when I was walking down a school corridor and she piped up from behind me “Something about slow down Schleicher .” She had a charm that was very special and always very kind and outgoing. We went out a few times in my 10th grade leather jacket days. Somewhere in that time period felt it was time to change my life style switched to a White Car coat. I respected her when I asked her about us and heard the words “I wasn’t qualified” but in a very polite way that was hard to take but were her real feelings. Was not easy to accept but ….learned that’s life. MaryAnn and I talked many times about what I could or couldn’t do to in our relationship. It was a real growth period in my life and thankful for MaryAnn’s patience.
I remember going to Patty’s home when Jailhouse Rock by Elvis was just released after high school and the fun we had dancing to that. There was always a special place In my heart for her!. I understood her and the words about hot rods. The 50s and also knew Terry Margeson from Norms filling station. One memory I had was one night at the Dairy-Mor when Terry gave me my first ride in his two door souped black 57 Chev. I will never forget as he shifted gears fast and being thrown back in the seat as we went north on Hwy 100. I could understand Patty better her attraction to him and his personification of a 50s guy.
Fast forward about 14 years when we were both divorced and remember when I had an 1952 Wood Chris Craft. We went out, with Lorie to big Island and barbequed hamburgers. I could understand and my heart told me how hurt she was and Terry was the one and she was happy with her life and how she moved on with Lorie. Believe that was the last time I saw her.
I felt bad around the time of our 60th reunion and I had my hands full with my wife Helen and her progression into Alzheimer’s/ Dementia issues. I was so concerned with her that I was not open to listening what else was going on the world and felt so bad to read of her passing and what the last few years have been for her! Was impressed to read of what she did with her life, helping others refurbishing homes and love of animals turned into a lifestyle of getting paid for doing something she loved. I regret not having taken the time to reconnect and let her know what a difference she made in my life by not telling her this and feel bad that I did not take the time to find out what she was going thru so painfully and just listen to her! My heart goes out to the family and for Patty’s battle with ALS and respect the 63 year relationship she had with her confident friend MaryAnn.
Memories from Kurt, Spike, Schleicher

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