Pat Stenberg Boucher, Who Served As A CRNA Health Aide For Twenty Years, Died June 29th, 2020 In Minnesota

Pat Stenberg Boucher served the Copper Valley as a Health Aide for 20 years.

 Longtime Gulkana Health Aide & Community Member Pat (Stenberg) Boucher

Patricia Stenberg Boucher, 88, of Detroit Lakes died on June 29, 2020 at Essentia Hospital, Detroit Lakes, MN. A memorial service was held at 1:00 PM on Friday, July 3, 2020 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 101 10th Ave SE in Pelican Rapids, MN.

She was born October 14, 1931 in Mankato, Minnesota to John and Grace Quirk. The family lived in Corpus Christi, Texas during WWII, and returned to Mankato following the war, where she graduated from Loyola High School.

Pat was married to Donald Stenberg in 1949. After an accident as a power lineman that left him a paraplegic, she began working to help sustain the family. In 1975, she and Don moved to Gakona, Alaska where she began a new career. At the age of 58, she received an Associate of Applied Science degree from the University of Alaska as a Community Health Practitioner. She worked for Copper River Native Association as a community health aide in several villages for twenty years. Her compassion for others and willingness to serve was appreciated by her many patients.

After Don died in 1991, Pat married Clement Boucher in 1996.  They made their home in Glennallen, Alaska and together built a new house.  Later they moved into Anchorage for their retirement years.  After Clem died in 2017, Pat moved to Detroit Lakes and made her home with her son and daughter-in-law. Pat spent the last six months at Pelican Landing Care Facility.  She enjoyed her time there and thought of the staff as her second family.

Pat was a generous, caring person.  Whether a caregiver for her two husbands, or the residents of Gulkana Village, she used her gifts in a loving way and impacted many lives. Her sense of humor and ability to tell stories will be remembered by many. She became a Christian later in life and was baptized as an adult in 1996.  Her faith became her Cornerstone and she was content with daily life and had assurance of her eternal home.

Pat is survived by her son, Gary (Karen) Stenberg of Detroit Lakes; granddaughters, Jennifer (Jeremy) Kratochwill, of Anchorage, Janelle  (Derek) Abad of Anchorage, Jeri (Patrick) Collins of Anchorage, Beret (Robert) Sealock of Lincoln, NE and Linnea (Chris) Overbeck of Plymouth, MN; six great grandchildren; and her two sisters, Mary Dumas of Palm Springs, CA and Grace (Jim) Bertrand of Henderson, NV; daughter-in-law, Joyce (Larry) Falldorf of Anchorage; as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Clem’s seven children, Clyde Boucher of Phoenix, Dewayne Boucher of Anchorage, Joseph (Lilith) Boucher of Hasselroth, Germany and Andrew (Brinda) Boucher of LaVergne, TN; daughters, Kim (Bill) Dennis of Anchorage and Dana (Matt) Harshburger of Clifton Forge, VA.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, son Jim Stenberg, an infant daughter, and three brothers.

Burial will take place at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage, AK.

Memorials are preferred to Helping Hands Global Ministry.