Patricia Ann Stevens

Published 4:57 pm Friday, April 4, 2025

Patricia Ann Stevens

Patricia Ann (Schmidt) Stevens, formerly of Austin, died Jan. 10, 2025. A memorial service will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12, at the First Congregational Church in Austin. Visitation will begin 30 minutes before the service at the church.

Patricia was born April 16, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., to Ruth Loraine and Frank Schmidt. After graduating from Brentwood High School, Patricia attended Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa) where she met her husband, Walter Stevens. Wed in 1954, they were married for 70 years until Walter’s death in September of 2024.

Patricia and Walter eventually moved to Austin where they lived for more than 50 years.

Patricia served on the Austin School Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Austin Sesquicentennial Committee and was a long-time member of the Collector’s Club. She was president of the League of Women Voters of Austin, the Austin Community Scholarship Committee, the Austin Ladies Floral Club, and helped lead First Congregational Church educational programs.

Pat and Wally moved to The Glenn in Hopkins in 2021 and spent their last years surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Patricia’s passion for design was reflected in homes styled in mid-century modern, Queen Anne and William Morris, and in her collection of Tea Leaf china, brass candlesticks, craftsman pottery and Stangl birds. She loved crossword puzzles, daisies, the Guthrie Theater, a Sunday sherry, the Minnesota Orchestra, and world travel.

Gracious, stylish, loving, kind, and possessing a sly wit, Patricia was a two-time cancer survivor, enthusiastic tennis player, and talented artist. She was surprised and delighted with every gift she opened, she could make the simplest craft project sing, she quietly recognized people in her life as they pushed to improve, and she never complained. Her last words were “thank you.”

Patricia is survived by her children, Christy Stevens of San Jose, Calif., Laurie (Jon) Pryor of Minnetonka, Brock Stevens of Minnetonka, and Margaret Stevens of Minneapolis; three grandchildren, Emily (R. Cameron) Pryor Winton, Thomas (Catherine) Pryor, and Samuel (Lauren) Pryor; seven great-grandchildren, Genevieve, Jack, Silas, Clementine, Ned, Henry, and Watson; sister, Barbara Jean Hirsh; nephew, Skip Hirsh; and niece, Lori Hirsh. Her brothers-in-law, their spouses and their children also survive her.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Walter Brock Stevens; and brother-in-law, Leon Hirsh.

Memorials may be directed to the Austin Public Library or to Minnesota Public Radio.