Patricia G. Pond

Patricia Gayle Dudding Pond, the daughter of Al and Norma Dudding was born January 27, 1953 in Estherville, Iowa. She died on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at the Golden Living Center, Lake Norden, South Dakota at the age of 63. She lived most of her childhood and youth on the family farm outside of Buffalo Center. In school, she was active in 4-H, the Spanish Club and several other clubs. She spearheaded the creation and management of her siblings' summer bean walking crew for many years. Her family enjoyed the fruits of her remarkable knack for cooking. After high school, she attended and graduated from Mankato Area Technical Vocational Institute. It was there that she met her future husband. On December 15, 1973, she was united in marriage to Gary Pond of Two Harbors, MN and they moved to Rochester, MN to work. In 1975, they moved to South Dakota where Pat was employed as a chef and Gary worked in bakeries in Madison and Watertown. In 1984, they purchased Sokolls Bakery in Watertown and changed the name to Ponds Bakery. They operated their bakery together until retiring in 2013. They raised their two children, David and Melanie in Watertown. Pat enjoyed watching David play...[more]

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gh school football and earn his Eagle Scout award. She also served as Melanie's Girl Scout leader, employing her teaching and creative flair. Pat succumbed to early onset dementia and moved into Golden Living Center, in Lake Norden, South Dakota. She is survived by her husband, Gary of Brookings, SD; son, David of Sioux Falls, SD; daughter and son-in-law Melanie and James Bowlin of Pierre, SD; grandchildren Jacob, Megan and Alexander; brothers: Michael and Kathy Dudding of Denison, IA; Jay Dudding of Bloomington, MN; Steve and Susan Dudding of Kimball, MN; sisters: Barb and Mike Stephens of Fort Calhoun, NE; Sandy and Steve Boerboom of Cottonwood, MN; sister-in-law, Mary Dudding of Nora Springs, IA; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, Al and Norma Dudding; two brothers, Thomas Dudding and Jon Dudding; and sister, Carol Dudding. Memorials are requested to the family.