Patricia "Pat" Adams

Patricia “Pat” Ann Adams was born on July 5, 1945 in Bovey, Minnesota to Malcolm and Bernice (Davey) Stead. Pat and her mother shared the same birthday. She grew up on Minnesota’s Iron Range and lived in Bovey until she was four years old. Her family then moved to Boise, Idaho when jobs were tight for her father on “the Range”. She then returned to Northern Minnesota in 5th grade and resided in Hoyt Lakes where she graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1964. During her younger years, Pat was a member of Girl Scouts through middle school and high school. Pat then attended Evelth Junior College and was the last graduating class of the school in June of 1966, when she graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree. Upon her graduation of Evelth Junior College, Pat continued her education by attending the University of Minnesota; graduating in June of 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, reaching her ultimate goal of teaching English. It was a deep passion of hers that students had access to the most important education opportunities that a school district can offer. 

While in high school, Pat had two poem manuscripts, “These I love” and “Avalanche”, published in the 1964 Annual Anthology of High School Poetry. These poems were selected by the National Poetry Press of LA. National competition among high school students. Thousands of students competed in this competition but only a few get selected. Her poem “These I love” was then selected to be published into another poetry compilation called “Love Poems”. 

In 1971, she married her college sweetheart, James Harvey Adams. The couple eventually settled down in Pipestone, Minnesota, where Pat worked as a reporter for the Pipestone Star from 1993 until 1995. She had her own column called “In the Attic”, based off of the Sherlock Holmes’ Attic theory in which he believes the human brain is like an attic; containing storage space and facts but because that space is finite, it must be filled only with things one needs to be the best version of oneself. Pat taught in the state’s smallest independent school district in Verdi, Minnesota, for four years and then later was employed by the Pipestone Area High School for many years. When Pat wasn’t writing or reading, she enjoyed tatting, crocheting, painting and sewing. Collecting cookbooks and finding new recipes was also a favorite pastime for her. 

Pat and her husband loved going to dramas, musicals and comedy performances. They attempted to attend a live performance every month and held season tickets to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the SDSU Repertory Theater in Brookings, South Dakota during the summer and at the Sioux Falls Community Playhouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She loved attending regional performances as well. Pat and Jim enjoyed attending the Pipestone County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair every year. Most of all, she loved Pipestone Area’s theater and assisting in their One Act Plays. Her greatest love of all were her dogs and spending time with them. Pat passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Pipestone, Minnesota, at the age of 78 years, five months and 24 days. 

She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Myra Stead and Ann Stead; brothers-in-law, Alvaro Gilindo and Glen Milbridge; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband, James Adams; her parents, Malcolm and Bernice Stead; sisters, Sandra and Jill; brothers, Mick and Alfred; and infant sister.

In accordance with her wishes, no funeral service will be held.