ROCHESTER, MN – Patricia Elrod, 76 of Rochester, MN died Thursday, October 16, 2025 at her home.

Memorial service will be at 2pm on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the Methodist Church in Murdo, SD.

Burial of cremated remains will be in Murdo City Cemetery.

Patricia “Pat” Mae Elrod (née Rada) was born on June 4, 1949 in Murdo, South Dakota, to Floyd “Fat” George Rada and Arlie Mae Rada (née Webb). Pat joined siblings Merle, Beverly, Joann, and Diana. Shortly thereafter, her sister, Judith “Judy” and brother Jerry “Butch” were born. After the separation of her parents, her mother remarried and the family relocated from Murdo to Pierre, where Pat’s brother, Kenneth “Kenny” Stolley was born – whom Pat often lovingly referred to as her “baby brother.” Decades later, Pat and her siblings were blessed to uncover new branches of their family tree, joyfully connecting with their half-sisters, Rita Fay and Karen Hohman.

Pat lived in Pierre until the age of sixteen, when she returned to Murdo, where she and her sister Judy lived with her uncle Robert “Bob” Webb and his wife Mina “Ione” Webb. Pat graduated from Murdo High School in 1967. Three years later, she was married to Wallace “Wally” Elrod. Eleven months later, they welcomed their daughter, Christina Marie Delfanian (née Elrod). Pat and Wally’s marriage concluded after a few years, yet they maintained a friendly and respectful relationship. Pat went on to lead an independent life marked by perseverance and dignity.

In 1991, Pat’s daughter, Christina, married Kamiab Delfanian, and together they welcomed Pat’s first granddaughter, Shaydah Marie Delfanian Smith, in 1995. Pat joyfully arrived at the hospital with her little car brimming with pink baby clothes, eager to celebrate the new arrival. Two and a half years later, her second granddaughter, Shahrzad Marie Delfanian, was born. Pat embraced her role as a grandmother with boundless love and warmth. On August 13, 2014, Pat’s granddaughter Shaydah welcomed her first great-grandchild, Sahara Marie Delfanian Williams Smith, a spirited little firecracker much like Pat herself. Sahara loved connecting and laughing with her Great Grandma Pat.

In addition to studying bookkeeping in college, Pat held a variety of positions throughout her career, including an internship at the state capitol, dispatcher for the Murdo Police Department, and clerk at the HHH Truck Stop. Pat was talented in many areas and enjoyed sharing her skills with others — from typing and assembling the Women’s Book and Thimble Club pamphlets to cutting hair, baking cakes, and sewing for Saint Mary’s Hospital.

A natural caregiver, Pat was devoted to her family and friends. She lovingly helped care for her mother, Arlie, her sister Beverley Richards (née Rada), and her Aunt Mina “Ione” Webb. She often babysat, including for her niece, Jacquie Erikson (nee Richard’s) and her husband Ray’s children, Paul and John Erikson. She also babysat children in the Murdo area, including Heather Voigt (née Jung). Over the years Pat spent time with her daughter Christina and cherished helping with her grandchildren when they were young. Pat’s care for Aunt Ione eventually led her and her sister Judy Rada to move back to Pierre, where they lived together for many years, until Pat relocated to Rochester, Minnesota, in 2022 to live with her daughter.

Pat was creative and industrious — she loved quilting, sewing, reading, drawing, watching television, and working on puzzles. She made countless beautiful quilts throughout her life, each one stitched with patience and love. She could bring any garment back to life with her sewing talents! In between her creative hobbies, she was known to rescue small animals and nurture them back to life.

She is survived by her daughter, Christina Delfanian, and her son-in-law, Kamiab Delfanian; her granddaughters, Shaydah Marie Delfanian Smith and Shahrzad Marie Delfanian; her grandson-in-law, Aaron Smith; and her great-granddaughter, Sahara. She is also survived by her siblings: her brother, Merle Rada; her sisters, Joann Karstetter (née Rada) and Diana Koch (née Rada); her brother, Jerry “Butch” Rada, and his beloved wife, Sharlene Rada (née Lebeda); her brother, Kenneth “Kenny” Stolley; and her sisters, Rita Fay and Karen Hohman.

Pat is preceded in death by her mother Arlie Stolley, father Floyd “Fat” Rada, sisters Beverley “Bev” Richards and Judy Rada, beloved family members Robert “Bob” and Mina “Ione” Webb, brothers-in-law Jack Richards and Gordon Koch, and her nephews Roger Karstetter and Christopher Koch.

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