Patricia Ann Folsland

Patricia Ann Jensen Folsland passed away peacefully at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA on December 20, 2024, after a short illness. Her son and best friend Terry was at her side. Mass of Christian Burial for Patricia Folsland, age 97, of Oldham, SD will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Arlington.  Visitation will be Tuesday January 7, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a prayer services at 7:00 PM, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Arlington. The funeral service will be live-streamed on our website. Private family interment will be in the Oldham City Cemetery.  

Patricia was born on January 17, 1927, to Chris and Bernadette O'Connell Jensen at Madison, SD. Patricia was number four of ten children. At two years of age, Patricia's family moved to Kingsbury County to the Brennan Farm Home. Coming from a home with no running water or electricity, they thought they were moving to a mansion. Pete Peterson had built the home and it was noted for its beautiful oak woodwork and not unimportantly, it had indoor plumbing and electricity. 

Patricia, being the middle girl, learned to cook at an early age. She could kill, pick, and fry a chicken at 12 years old. She went to the one room Brennan Country School. She was often late as she had to make breakfast and then walk the mile to school. She was also left-handed. The teachers tried to force her to use her right. She was a proud lefty all her life. 

Patrica attended Lake Preston High School and graduated in 1945. She was active in school activities and often helped with scrap iron drives to aid the war effort. Patricia often stayed in Lake Preston as she worked at the Drug Store. She stayed with her best friend Verlyn Smith's family. They remained close until Verlyn passed. 

Following graduation, Patricia moved to Seattle, Washington to work for the Government, where her sister Peggy was living. She carried on a correspondence with Kermit Folsland, who she had dated in high school, even if he was from rival Oldham. Kermit was in the US Navy in the Pacific. 

They reunited in Hayward California, where Patricia's sister Donna lived with her husband, Emanuel Nelson. They married there in 1947, with her sister and husband standing up for them. 

Pat and Kermit moved back to South Dakota to take over the family business as Kermit's father Alfred, was ill with Parkinson's disease. They were blessed with two children, Kathryn (Kathy) and Terrill (Terry). Kathy developed Leukemia and was treated at the Mayo Clinic. She passed away at 12 years of age. The devastated couple became very involved with Danny Thomas who was just beginning his St. Judes Research Hospital for Childhood Cancer. Patricia held fundraisers and continued to donate funds the rest of her life. She was fortunate to visit the Memphis Campus with her niece, Robbea Butler and see the plaque dedicated to Kathy. 

Patricia was involved in many civic organizations. She and Nina Lund founded a Girls Scout troop in Oldham. She was also involved in the 4H program. When the American Legion Auxiliary was founded in Oldham, she joined in 1947. She held many offices and also produced the Memorial Day Program, well into her nineties. She was still an active member at the time of her passing. 

She was a member of the extension club in Oldham. When Emil Lorks purchased the Peterson home in Oldham, Patricia and Verna Lee were Chairmen of what was to become the Loriks Peterson Heritage House. She served as a Chairman until 2017. 

Patricia enjoyed bowling and was a member of a Lady's League and Mixed Doubles League for years. Her real love was contract bridge. She played both in South Dakota and Laguna Beach, CA. where Patricia and Kermit spent their winters. 

Kermit and Patricia traveled over the world to attend the National Honey Conventions. They formed great friendships and Kermit then began exporting his honey to the Netherlands. 

Summers at the lake were important as well. Patricia loved it there and could sit for hours watching the boats go by and hosting her family for Sunday reunions and ski lessons. Her nieces and nephews all have memories of lake visits. Patricia and Terry spent their summers there after Kermit passed. 

Patricia had a very special relationship with her nieces Jacky Leonhardt and Michelle Longville. After their mothers death, Patricia stepped up and spent quality time with both girls and later with their children, Kelly, Catherine, Zach and Kristen. She tried not to miss any activity that the kids were involved in. They brought great joy and love into her life. 

Patricia so loved Palm Springs, CA and enjoyed her last two years there living with her son Terry. She loved cooking and continued doing so until her death, a month before her 98th birthday. Her family wanted her to publish a family cookbook as they loved all of her salads and were afraid her recipes would be lost. To everyone's pleasure, the cookbook was published a few years ago.  Patricia was loved by many and will be dearly missed. 

Continuing her generosity even through her passing, Patricia requested any memorials be sent to St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. 

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place

Memphis, TN 38105

Patricia is survived by her son Terrill Folsland, siblings Kay Hendricks, Robert Jensen (Ruth), and Shirley Wilde (Lowell), niece Michelle Longville (Scott, Zach, and Kristen), great-nieces Kelly Josephsen (Greg, Macey, Logan, and Lucas), Catherine Murphy (Chad, Sutton, Gentry, and Claire), and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends, especially Millie and Larry Furney.

Patricia is preceded in death by husband Kermit Folsland, daughter Kathryn Folsland, parents Chris and Bernadette Jensen, parents-in-law Alfred and Lenore Folsland, siblings Donna Nelson, Peggy Farnsworth, James Jensen, Daniel Jensen, John Jensen, Jerome Jensen, niece Jacqueline Leonhardt, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Arlington, Oldham, Lake Preston.

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