Patricia Ann Liska, 85, of Pick City, died peacefully on June 5, 2023, surrounded by her family at Augusta Place, Bismarck, ND. Funeral services were held Monday, June 12, 2023, at the Riverdale Community Church with burial following in the Coleharbor Cemetery.
Patricia was born on Oct. 9, 1937, in McVille, ND to Helen and Earl Jurgenson and was raised on the family farm outside Tolna, ND, with 3 sisters and a brother. She loved nothing more than being outside with her dad on the farm. Her love of the outdoors continued throughout her life.
She graduated from Tolna in 1955 and married the love of her life, Gordon Liska, in 1957. They were married almost 35 years until Gordy’s death in 1991.
Together, Pat and Gordy worked hard being on the road for several years while Gordy did road construction, then lived in Hamar, ND. They welcomed three daughters into the world, and she was most proud of “her girls.”
In 1969, they relocated to Riverdale, ND, where she and Gordy operated ‘Gordy’s Standard’ gas station, drove schoolbus and worked in the station side by side while raising their girls. After selling the gas station, she began driving the McLean/Mercer County Bookmobile where everyone knew her as the “bookmobile lady.” In 1975, she began her career with the US Army Corps of Engineers as a Purchasing Agent where she retired in 1998.
Pat and Gordy spent their time snowmobiling, fishing the shores of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River, and enjoyed hunting and camping with friends and family. They loved dancing together and could do a waltz and two-step like no other. She never missed a basketball game or school events while the girls were young. She also threw plenty of strikes and spares while on bowling leagues and loved playing cards. Mom had a green thumb, planted huge gardens, and enjoyed the fruits of her labor, as did many others. She was most proud of the house that she and Gordy built in Pick City, spending hours making the yard immaculate.
She lost Gordy in 1991 but gained a special friend, Robert (Skinny) Pochant in 1994 where they traveled in their motor home for many years to avoid the ND winters. They enjoyed their time visiting with their many friends all around the local community and met many new friends on their travels. Pat loved her Pick City coffee crew and Bingo girls.
Pat loved her family immensely which included her 3 daughters, 3 son-in-laws, 6 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. Her family meant everything to her, and her to all of them. She was not only our Mom but our best friend.
She will forever hold a special place in the hearts of her family and friends and will be deeply missed by all.
She is survived by her special friend Robert Pochant (Pick City), daughters: Penny (Mark) Natwick, Pam (Curt) Bethke, Shanon (Tom) Bogren (all of Bismarck). Pat also leaves behind grandchildren: Nathan (Kristin) Natwick, Lindsey (Neal) Presser, Tyler Bogren (Keelie Just), Jamison Bogren (all of Bismarck), Nicholas (Kyleigh) Bethke (Burnsville, MN), and Taylor (Kurt) Mueller (New Richmond, WI); great grandchildren: Claire, Hudson, Oliver, Axel, Jack, Blake, Hunter, Channing, and Beckett, and sister, Jan (Sam) Burgin. She is also survived by Brother-in-laws: Jim (Shirley) Liska, Wayne (Barbara) Liska; Sister-in-law, Judy Borgen. Pat also leaves behind the entire Pochant family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Liska; her parents, and sisters: Shirley Tweed, Phyllis Erman, and a brother, Dale Jurgenson.
