Patricia Eileen (Maguire) Kenner was born July 9, 1929, in Triumph, MN. She passed away Sept. 28, 2013, at Fountain Springs Health Care.
Patricia was the daughter of Jerry and Ethel Maguire, the second of seven children. In her early years the family moved from Triumph to Brandt, SD, then to Brookings, Dell Rapids, and Rapid City. Following graduation at Rapid City High School, she attended the University of South Dakota and graduated from St. John’s McNamara School of Nursing (now Rapid City Regional Hospital) as a registered nurse. She was then hired as the night supervisor on the OB floor in Rapid City.
She and Robert “Bob” Kenner married in 1952, enjoying 61 years together. They resided in Kansas for two years while Robert worked for Gulf Oil. It was in Kansas that their first son, Mark, was born. Soon after Mark’s birth they returned to Rapid City for Robert to manage the family business, Howard’s Body Shop. The couple’s next six children were born in Rapid City. Pat and Bob celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2012, with family and friends.
Pat utilized her RN degree while raising her seven young children. During the 1970’s she worked the night shift at the Rapid City Rehabilitation Hospital to enable her to tend to her family’s needs during the day. She was a very creative and accomplished cook; creative in that she and Bob were able to feed their growing family well on the wild game which Bob hunted or fished. Each of her culinary creations was a work of love.
Patricia devoted her life to public service. She became active on the West Junior High PTA, the League of Women Voters and various organizations. She served two consecutive terms in the SD State Legislature. One of her most memorable experiences was traveling to China in 1975 for five weeks with a group of 24 legislators from 10 states. She served on the RC School Board for nine years, and on numerous committees dealing with vocational and special education, community health, and the arts. She valued her service on the Community Health Center (CHC) of the Black Hills. She was instrumental in starting the Rapid City Community Health Board which evolved into the CHC of Black Hills. She was president of the West River Foundation, serving the needs of those with mental and physical challenges in West River. She has been honored with the South Dakota American Association of University Women’s Equity Award, the South Dakota Vocational Education Association’s Award of Merit, and Western Dakota Vocational Technical Institute’s Distinguished Service Award. She fervently believed that the education of children is the most important charge that a community has for its future.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Robert Kenner; brothers, Dick Maguire, Rapid City, Tom Maguire, Bailey, CO, and Paul Maguire, Rapid City; six children, Scott (Mary) Kenner, Rapid City, Kristen (Ken) Kenner, Reno, NV, Robyn (Kelly) Brown, Spokane, WA, Terese Kenner, Sioux Falls, Todd (Sally) Kenner, Rapid City, and Paul (Kim) Kenner, Las Vegas, NV; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Ethel Maguire; three siblings, Mary Gregory, Jim Maguire, and Frances Quasney; her eldest son, Mark; and two great-grandchildren, James and Coen. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1012 Soo San Drive. A memorial in Pat’s name has been set up at Children’s Care, 7110 Jordan Drive, www.cchs.org .
Patricia cherished her Irish heritage handed down from her dad, Jerry Maguire. She will be missed but lives on through her family and those who she has influenced through devotion to education.
Patricia’s online guestbook is available to sign at www.osheimschmidt.com.