Patricia Ridenour

Patricia Ridenour was born in Des Moines, Iowa on January 23, 1931.  She died at her home in Windsor Heights on April 13, 2025.

Patricia was born to Arthur and Mamie Beck (Bloomquist), the youngest of their eight children, and raised on the south side of Des Moines.  She went to Howe Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln High School.  She began working at Lamson Bros. & Co., where she met Max Ridenour, and they were married on August 11, 1950.  Max and Pat raised three children on the south side of Des Moines, Rex, Susan and Rob.

Pat left the workforce to raise her children and was very involved in all of their various activities.  She took great pleasure in her yard and enjoyed the many hours spent landscaping and nurturing her plants and flowers.  Pat also enjoyed drawing, watercolors and oil painting.  When her youngest, Rob, was in high school, she rejoined the workforce through Kelly Services and eventually landed in the print shop at Des Moines University, where she stayed until her retirement. 

Pat and Max enjoyed retirement and did some traveling to visit family and friends around the country.   They were married 61 years, until Max's death in 2011.  Pat then left the south side and moved to a senior living apartment in Windsor Heights where she embraced her new life and enjoyed her new friends in the building.  She loved visiting with her friends, playing dominos, trying new recipes, listening to books on tape and watching old movies.

Pat is survived by her children: Rex Ridenour (Cindy), Susan Ridenour (Bill Parks) and Robert Ridenour (Gillian Marcellin); three grandchildren: Jaime Ridenour, Eric Ridenour and Max Parks; and two great-grandchildren: Paige and William Ridenour.  She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and good friends.  

Predeceasing Pat is her husband, Max, her granddaughter, Samantha Parks, and her seven siblings: Ernie Beck, Laurene Ryan, Elsie Brose, Helen Knepper, Kathryn Harvey, Alvin Beck and Dorothy (Becky) Sheil.

 A visitation will be held for Patricia at the Merle Hay Funeral Home on May 10th from 1:00-3:00, with a burial immediately following.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa SIDS Foundation.

Patricia always had a naturally positive attitude, embraced change and loved life.  She will be missed.  Always.