Patricia Lou White

Patricia Lou (Banks) White, age 90, of Yankton, South Dakota was called home on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Funeral services are 11:00 AM, on Friday, December 27, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Katie Ricke officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery. Visitation is from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, on Thursday, December 26, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a prayer service at 6:00 PM. Visitation also continues one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Pat was born May 1, 1934 in Cache, Oklahoma to Cathryn Irene (Allen) Banks and Berle Obrey Banks. She was born at home and her Grandaunt Lucy Cook Parr came to help deliver her. She grew up in Cache, Oklahoma and went to Lawton High School where she was always on the honors list, graduated salutatorian in 1952 and engaged in activities ranging from tennis, science club, being in school plays, Latin club and helping produce the school yearbook. While growing up, she also raised horses and was a champion barrel racer on her horse, Tricksie.

Pat was a life long learner and attended Oklahoma A&M College where she continued to earn honors as well as being inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Pat attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Bacteriology with a minor in Chemistry. At OSU, she became a member of the Alpha Pi Mu society. Pat attended Black Hills University and then continued at the University of South Dakota to earn her Masters in Education.

On September 10, 1954, Pat married Warren Milton “Pete” White in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They went on to have three children, Milton, Shar and Trina. Pete joined the US Fish & Wildlife Service and began their adventure of moving across the county. They lived in Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota, Utah and North Dakota before retiring and moving back to Yankton, SD. They had a unique idea of retirement and promptly opened the Iron Springs Country Store in Yankton, where Pat acted as the chief proprietor.

Pat loved the outdoors and she and Pete hiked, fished and camped together. She loved time with family and friends and enjoyed playing cards and board games. She and Pete round and square danced and started a chapter of Red Hats while living in Oklahoma. Pat was always an active member of the United Methodist Church, was a current member of First United Methodist Church in Yankton and served on many committees, including the Methodist Women’s Club and taught adult Sunday school. Pat was an incredibly hard worker and believed in always finding ways to serve others. Pat was fiercely intelligent, never stopped learning and never stopped teaching us all.

Pat is survived by her three children: Milton White of Yankton, Shar (Mark) Peterson of Yankton, and Trina White (Michelle Jones) of Omaha, NE; and many loving family members and friends. 

Pat was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter-in-law, Julene White; and by her loving husband of almost 65 years, Pete.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Wesley Chapel in Lawton, Oklahoma or First United Methodist Church in Yankton, South Dakota.