Funeral services for Pat Madsen, 83, of Presho, SD will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lower Brule, SD with burial in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery at Kennebec, SD.  Visitation will be Monday beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a rosary/wake service at 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lower Brule, SD.  There will be a luncheon after the graveside services in Kennebec at St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave from funeral home on Monday at 3:00 p.m.

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Mary Patricia (Pat) Madsen (Jones), 82, of Presho, SD, passed away on April 21st, 2025. Pat was born to William A. Jones and Helen Rose Durkin in Pierre, SD, on February 26th, 1942. She lived at Fort George with her Grandma Lima Fallis and Grandpa Patrick Durkin until the 8th grade, when she moved to Kadoka to live with her parents.

Pat married the love of her life, Chris W. Madsen, on September 23rd, 1960, at Our Lady of Victory Church in Kadoka. To this union, seven children were born – Christine, Patrick, Carmen, Kelly, Willie, Kimm, and Michael. In 1965, they moved to Long Valley, and in 1969, they relocated to Fort George. In 1975, they settled at their lifelong home on the ranch north of Presho.

Pat worked at Lower Brule Elementary for a couple of years before beginning her long career with the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Head Start program in 1973. She dedicated 47 years to the program, retiring in 2020. During her time at Head Start, she also served on the board for the National Head Start Association in Washington, D.C. She attended many national meetings and visited other reservation Head Start programs. Over the years, she became known as "Granny Pat" to many generations, remembered for the love and kindness she shared with all. Her well-known saying was, "If a child knew they were loved, they would make it."

In addition to raising her two grandchildren, Stormie and Dylan, she also cared for her nephews, Roddy and Randy, who lived with her. Many other children spent a great deal of their formative years in her household. Each one of them continues to hold a special place in her heart.

Pat loved to dance with her husband, read, write poems and stories, plant flowers, garden, and spend time with her grandchildren. She was also a renowned cook who loved to bake and prepare meals for others—especially her famous taco salad and crazy cake with homemade fudge frosting.

Pat leaves behind her husband of 64 years, Chris W. Madsen, and five children: Christine (Jim) Olson of Ft. Pierre; Kelly (Teresa) Madsen of Ft. Pierre; Willie Madsen of Presho; Kimm (Ron) Schweitzer of Presho; and Michael Shane Madsen of Presho. She is also survived by her sister, Kathy (Dave) Ling of Rifle, CO. She leaves behind 13 grandchildren—Stormie Madsen, Jami Larson, Patrick Olson, Andrew Madsen, Dylan Madsen, Ryder Schweitzer, Mariah Hoelscher, Kateri McManus, Maleah Tuttle, Briar Rose Schweitzer, Clare Madsen, Jameson Madsen, and Reva Madsen—as well as 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William A. Jones and Helen (Teeter) Rose Durkin; her sister, Mickey Neuman; her newborn son, Patrick; her daughter, Carmen; her in-laws, Esther and John "Chris" Madsen; and brothers-in-law, Durward and Bruce.

Pat was kind, wise, nurturing, and loving to all she met.