Bird J. Patterson was born July 1, 1904, the oldest of five children, on a farm in Rawlins County, twelve miles south of Atwood, Kansas, the son of Waitman T. and Celia (Gessellman) Patterson. He grew up on the farm and attended grade school at Traer, Kansas and attended high school in Wionia, Kansas.

Bird was united in marriage to Nellie Marie Letellier on December 12, 1925 in Atwood, Kansas, and to this union were born three children: Gene, Jerry and Marilyn. They made their home in the Page City, Kansas area where they farmed and sold farm machinery until 1939 when they moved to a farm south of Norris, South Dakota. In 1944, they moved into Kadoka where they owned and operated the Patterson Supply hardware store. After selling the hardware store in the early 1960’s, they built an implement dealership on the northeast side of Kadoka, which they operated until 1979. Bird was awarded for having sold over 100 Allis Chalmers Gleaner Combines during his years in business. He also purchased a propane business in Philip and kept his hand in the farming business throughout his life. Together, with his son Gene, he then started an implement dealership in Piedmont, South Dakota, called Patterson Supply.

After the death of his wife of almost seventy years, on August 29, 1995, Bird continued to reside in Kadoka. In April 2004, Bird moved into the Kadoka Care Center, where he has since resided. Just three months ago, he had been driving daily to pick up his mail at the Post Office and to have coffee at least twice a day at Discount Fuel. He had also been attending farm auctions all over South Dakota and neighboring states until just a year ago.

Bird was associated with the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two sons Gene Patterson and his wife Maxine of Rapid City, and Jerry Patterson and his wife Joan of Kadoka; eighteen grandchildren; fifty great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; one sister Birdie Caston of San Francisco, California; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to his wife Nellie Marie, Bird was preceded in death by a daughter Marilyn Root; a granddaughter Margo Patterson; his parents; one brother Woodrow "Bill" Patterson; and two sisters Faye Hutchinsen and Dorothy Keiser.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2004 at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.

Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with John Kaiser officiating.

Interment was at the Kadoka Cemetery.

A memorial is established.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Church
Kadoka, South Dakota
OFFICIANT
John Kaiser
EULOGY
Michael Patterson
MUSIC
Jo Anne Stilwell – Pianist
Susan Davidson – Vocalist
"Abide With Me"
Bird’s Granddaughters
"Amazing Grace"
"You’ll Never Walk Alone"
USHERS
Preston Patterson – Colter Carlson
Joey Patterson – Nicholas Patterson
Chris Kendricks – Dallas Kendricks
PALLBEARERS
Grant Patterson – Jeff Patterson – Scott Patterson
Dennis Patterson – Terre Patterson – Mark Carlson
Mark VanderMay – Mike Patterson – Ed Seidler
Robert Patterson– Jim Meyering – Scott Romero
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Great-Grandchildren
and Great-Great-Grandchildren
INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota