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Patty Lemke, 70 years, 11 months 4 days old, passed away on April 14, 2024 surrounded by her loving family following a brave battle with cancer at Sanford Health in Bismarck, ND.

A rosary/vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024 at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent, ND.  Mass of Christian Burial for Patty will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at St. Henry's Catholic Church.   Fr. Chris Kadrmas will officiate with burial in the Sunnyslope Cemetery at Mott, ND.

Patty was born May 10, 1953 to Peter and Genoveva (Gion) Candrian in Dickinson, ND.  Patty and her twin brother Patrick were the youngest of 8 children.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent, ND.  She attended Regent Public School and graduated in 1972.

She was united in marriage to Duane Lemke November 17, 1973 at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent, ND.  They built their life together on a farm north of Bentley.  Their love for each other grew into a family of 5 daughters: Juanita, Jessica, Julia, Justina, and Jaylea.  She creatively found 5 names that they loved for their girls that started with a "J", ended with an "a" and had 3 syllables.  Patty's family meant everything to her.  Losing her daughter Justina at the age of 17 months left a void in her heart, but faith and love carried her through.

Her daughters and grandchildren were her pride and joy.  She would be seen watching them perform in their concerts and plays or cheering for them from the bleachers and sidelines. She was their #1 fan and always embraced them with a hug afterwards. Many family memories were made at the lake camping and fishing or taking family trips to visit relatives.

Patty helped Duane where needed on the farm.  Her strength was her homemaking skills such as gardening, canning, cooking, baking, wheat weaving, cross stitching, and crafting.  Her passion was behind a sewing machine making matching dresses for her girls for every holiday, numerous swing choir attire for the Mott Cafe Concerts, and wedding dresses for each daughter when they got married.  After being introduced to quilting in 2004 she was hooked.  Every nook and cranny in her house quickly filled with fabric and eventually a long arm quilting machine to express her artistic ability.  She treasured the friendships she made at quilt retreats, weekly quilt night gatherings, at fabric shops and through customers with the same sewing passion as hers.  Over the years she quilted over 1,200 custom quilts. The "quilting girls" have been her closest friends and a valuable support group over the years.

She battled cancer for 16 years, but the last 7 have been the hardest after being diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer.  She was a fighter though and surpassed the doctors expectations.

Patty and Duane had a love like no other.  A love that lasted over their 50 years of marriage. They balanced each other perfectly.  Where one was weak, the other was strong.  Their love for each other could be felt by anyone that knew them.  They have shown their daughters that "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" love prevails.  They taught their daughters to trust in God and the plan he has for us.  Duane was at Patty's side over every mile to Mayo, every appointment, every hard day at home, every second of every day for the last couple months until it was her time to meet the Lord.

Patty is survived by her husband Duane Lemke; four daughters Juanita (Rob) Hertz – Jamestown, ND, Jessica (Brian) Manolovits – Mott, ND, Julia (Brad) Peters – Dickinson, ND, Jaylea (Lance) Hourigan – Lemmon, SD; 13 Grandchildren Chandler, Dawson, Brett, Alyssa, Jenaya (fiance Hunter), Cole, Emily, Max, Blake, Jace, Collin, Claire, and Ellie; brothers Lawrence Candrian and twin brother Patrick Candrian; sisters Virginia (Mel) Kessler, Marcy Kennedy, Florence (Joe) Dawang, and Martha (Earl R.) Wallace.

She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Genoveva Candrian, her infant daughter Justina Lemke and brother Leroy Candrian.