Patricia Van Zee

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Patricia E. Van Zee, 87, of Miller, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021 at her home.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller with Tiffany A. Hofer, officiating.  Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. A visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.  Masks are encouraged at the service. 

For those unable to attend, the funeral service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Patricia Ellen Dargan was born to William Joseph and Joan Mary (Willows) Dargan on November 9, 1933 at Camberwell, District of London, England.  Her father died in 1935 and was buried in London.  Her mother was born March 24, 1914 and died November 21, 2006.  She was buried in Thetford, England.  Due to World War II, Pat was sent to Twyford-Berkshire Infant School.  She attended Wargrave Secondary High School, graduating in 1949 and Reading Technical College for two years.  She was employed in the post office. 

Pat met Air Force E-5 S/Sgt. Desmond Van Zee when he was stationed in Greenham Common, Newbury, England.  They were married May 9, 1954 and when his tour of duty was over, they came back to his farm near Rockham, South Dakota with their baby son, Michael, in March 1956.  It was a big shock to Pat, life on the farm was not what this city girl was used to.  They were blessed with another son, Craig and daughter, Theresa.  It was a busy life with chores and raising her family, but also plenty of fun and good times.  

Pat attended Huron College in 1972 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree of Arts in 1975.  She earned her Master of Science degree from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  She taught at Spring Lake rural Hand County country school from August 1975 to 1979.  Then she taught Special Education in Miller, South Dakota until her retirement.

Pat was a very talented lady, and it shows in and around her home.  Her living room walls are covered with her beautiful counted cross stitch and family pictures.  She was generous and many family members and friends were happy to have received her gifts.

She loved spending many hours working in her yard with her pretty flowers and garden.  She was always found baking, cooking, canning, freezing, and making pies from the apples off her trees.  Her door was always open.  She loved company and entertaining her family and friends.  The coffee pot was always on and no one ever left Pat’s home without a homemade dessert of some kind, usually a new recipe.

Pat had a great sense of humor.  Through the years, she was an avid card player, especially, Whist, she always counted every card and thoroughly enjoyed the company of her friends.  She could knit anything and made many blankets to give away.  Pat enjoyed Bingo, was on a bowling team, she was a good swimmer, and loved spending time at the lake with family.  She was excited when her grandson, Derick, came to her door hollering, “Come on, Grandma, let’s go fishing”.  Those were great and happy times. 

Pat is survived by her two sons: Michael (June) Van Zee, Craig (Pam) Van Zee; daughter, Theresa Van Zee; grandchildren: Jessica and Brady Van Zee, Desirae (Travis) Oxandaburu, Derick and Dexter Van Zee; Kyle (Courtney) Van Zee, Desmond Graves, Wade (Kortney) Graves, Joe Graves and Rachael Van Zee; great-grandchildren: Cambree Van Zee, Elianna Graves and Jacoby Oxandaburu; her sister, Gloria Paine of Thetford, England; and many nieces and nephews there; brothers-in-law: Renus Van Zee, Steve (Judy) Van Zee, Delmar (Ginger) Van Zee, and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Desmond Van Zee on January 27, 1997; brothers-in-law: Elvin (Doris) Van Zee, Eugene Van Zee; sister-in-law, Patty Van Zee; sister, Deidre (John) Woodhatch and brother, Arthur Ransom of England.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Pat’s arrangements.