Patricia Estella Weltikol

Patricia Estella Weltikol, aged 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Park View Nursing Home in Wells, Minnesota.

She was born January 18, 1932, to Gladys Ella (Thompson) and Maxwell Dorance Palmer in rural Martin County, Minnesota. She attended grade school and high school in Austin, Minnesota. Patricia was the firstborn of three children. Her siblings are Michael Palmer (deceased), and Anita (Palmer) Jones.

She was greatly loved by her family, including her four children and spouses from her previous marriage to Gail Elmer Grant: Valerie (Daniel) MacDonald (deceased), Gayle (Michael) Hughes, Gregory Grant, and Gaylord (LuAnne) Grant. Patricia married her late husband, Donald Ray Weltikol on December 12, 1997, with whom she shared amazing love and devotion.

Patricia was a proud Grandmother to 9 Grandchildren, 15 Great Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. She delighted in her role as a mother and Grandmother, and her legacy of love and kindness lives on in her entire family. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Patricia’s life was marked by her deep faith, hard work, and unwavering commitment to helping others. She dedicated her early years to home making, farming, and raising her children. Seeing an opportunity to broaden her education and fulfill her desire to help others, she obtained her certification as a Nurse Assistant and held multiple positions including, working with mentally disabled children and providing elder care in nursing homes. In later years she was able to continue her compassionate support to the elderly by training for and assuming management roles in two senior living complexes in Pine City and Stillwater, Minnesota. In her later years, she found joy and purpose in cooking meals for teenagers attending addiction treatment in a facility in Winnebago, Minnesota.

Patricia made many transitions in life, both in purpose and location. Her guiding sentiment was, “Bloom where you are planted.” In this, she excelled, bringing faith, optimism, resilience, love, and compassion to every chapter of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hospice Services of United Health District (UHD) in Blue Earth, MN.

A viewing will be held at 10:00 am and Pastor Janelle Jacobs will officiate a celebration of life for Patricia at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Spencer-Owen Funeral Home, 345 6th Avenue, Winnebago, MN 56098. Interment will take place later at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55450.