Patricia Kuiper

Patricia Mae Kuiper, the daughter of Albert and Mildred (Rusten) Anderson, was born on January 29, 1939, in La Grande township, MN.  Pat grew up in the Alexandria area where she was baptized in 1939 and confirmed in 1954 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria.  She attended School District #83 until the 6th grade and then graduated from Central High School in 1957.

After high school, Pat moved to the Minneapolis area for a short time before moving back to Alexandria.  She married Thomas Franzen and four children were born to this union, William, Kathryn, Robert, and Jennifer. She then began to work Phelps and Ness Accounting firm for the next 43 years before she retired.

Pat married Douglas Kuiper on July 20, 1985.  Together they lived in Alexandria and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Pat also enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, making lefsa and rosettes, knitting, and being very active at First Lutheran Church.

A few of Pat’s characteristics would include, charismatic, thoughtful, good listener and that she always had a smile on her face.  She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She would often attend their school and sporting events.  She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

Patricia M. Kuiper died on Sunday, July 26, 2020, at Bethany on the Lake at the age of 81 years old.  She is survived by her husband Doug Kuiper of Alexandria; sons, Bill Franzen of Alexandria and Bob (Alicia) of Osakis; daughters, Kay Franzen (Randy Goestch) (Jake and Kady Goestch) of Andover and Jennifer (Mike) Kiewel of Zimmerman, MN; daughter in law, Marsha Franzen of Alexandria; grandchildren, Stephanie (Tim) Balgaard, Carlee (Zac) Beireis, Ryan Franzen (fiancé, Brooke Nelson), Avery Franzen (fiancé, Riley Paulsen), Zack Franzen, Regan Kiewel, and Rylee Kiewel; great grandchildren, Bennett Balgaard and Ariana Balgaard; sisters Alice (Richard) Huhn of Hawthorne, CA, Rosemarie (Edward) McDonald of Tulsa, OK, and Diane Anderson of Plymouth; Step-children, Richard (Patricia) Kuiper of Rochester, Catherine (Jim) Catlow of Coulee Dam, WA, Liz (Jason) Ellington of Parkland, FL, James (Heidi) Kuiper of Savage, and Tom (Denise) Kuiper of Sibley, IA.  Pat was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Maxine Aga.

A Public Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 4-7 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.

A Private Funeral Service will take place at the Anderson Funeral Home on Thursday. Patricia’s funeral service will be Live Streamed for those who are not able to attend.

A Public Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at noon at the Evergreen Cemetery.  Casket Bearers were all of Patricia’s grandchildren, Zack Franzen, Avery Franzen, Ryan Franzen, Regan Kiewel, Rylee Kiewel, Stephanie Balgaard and Carlee Beireis.  Honorary Casket Bearers were Steve Waller, John Nygard, Larry Pearson, Richard Volker, Dennis Schmidt, and the late Dan Ness.

Due to COVID-19 all visitors will be required to wear a mask and social distance.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Pat’s family.