Patrick Lewis

Patrick "Pat' Lewis died in the hospital on Friday, March 8 with his wife Kathy at his side. 

His Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am Tuesday, March 19 at Church of the Ascension, 1825 S. 3rd St, Bismarck. 

Visitation will be at the church prior to the service.

Patrick Barlow Lewis was born in Winona, Minnesota on July 24, 1936 to Max and Dorothy (Barlow) Lewis. He attended St. Thomas Elementary, Cotter High School and St. Mary’s University of MN. In 1958 he enlisted in the Army and served two years in occupied Korea. His service commitment ended, Pat took a job selling shoes with Edison Bros. Stores in Minneapolis, MN. He later transferred to Duluth, MN where he met and married his wife of nearly 56 years, Kathryn Heffernan. 

Pat was sent to Memphis, TN in the fall of 1968. During their three and a half years there a daughter Jennifer was born. The family transferred to Bismarck when Pat became manager of Baker’s Shoes in the new Kirkwood Mall.

Pat retired from Edison Bros. at 55; among other things he proof-read for the Legislative Session, did some work for Basin Electric and worked on the Census. He spent his last 15 years of work at Walmart, retiring at 75.

Pat loved visiting with people and had a knack for making friends. Over the years he kept in touch with his old high school friends, former employees, his baseball buddies, people he met at the Capitol, the coffee circle he joined at Barnes and Noble. He loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. 

Pat loved sports—he was in a local fantasy baseball league for years and was an avid Twins fan. Minnesota Wild hockey was his focus in the winter months. He loved March Madness and followed NDSU football.

His love of animals led to a succession of pet cats, the most recent being Callie, who brought much joy until an illness took her life just before Christmas.

Pat was interested in many subjects and the computer became his friend as his eyesight began to interfere with reading his beloved magazines, books and newspapers. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of orchestras, singers, conductors and a special love of Broadway musicals. He relished discussing politics and history. He enjoyed learning about Bismarck, was a member of the Bismarck Historical Society and regularly watched their tv presentations. Baseball history was a special passion and he enjoyed trading information with those of a similar leaning. He and Kathy enjoyed playing bridge. 

Highlights of his life were the trips he and Kathy made with Jennifer and Maralee to New York, Boston, London and Ireland. Many hours were spent reminiscing over those memories, plus the times spent in Tampa at the USF campus when Jenny and Maralee were teaching there.

Pat battled with health problems in the last years of his life. The family is grateful for the wonderful therapists and home health helpers as he courageously fought the effects of these conditions and for the special care he received at Sanford in his final days.

Pat is survived by his wife Kathryn, and daughter Jennifer (Maralee Mayberry), Alexandria, VA. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Max and Dorothy Lewis; Kathy’s parents, Ernie and Allegra Heffernan; sister-in-law, Sharon Stein and brother-in-law, Bob Heffernan.