Patricia Ruth Dahna September 14, 1946 – April 19, 2025
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Patricia Ruth Dahna, known lovingly as Pat, passed away peacefully on April 19th, 2025, in Tatum, Texas. Born on September 14th, 1946, in Benkelman, Nebraska, Pat lived a life marked by grit, grace, and quiet strength.
The youngest daughter of Leonard and Charlotte Parker, Pat’s early years were shaped by a tragic car accident that left her father disabled. From a young age, she took on tremendous responsibility, helping her family run their farm — including moving heavy irrigation pipe before school. She often spoke of the beauty hidden in those struggles, and her resilience became a defining trait.
She graduated from Benkelman High School in 1964 and pursued nursing at St. Anthony’s Practical School of Nursing in Denver, where she met her first husband, Stanley Howard. Together they raised two daughters, Tricia and Sharla, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Pat married Thomas Dahna on February 2, 1997. Together, they made their home in East Texas.
Pat was a devoted follower of Christ and was a Member of the Tatum Church of Christ, where she formed close friendships and quietly offered her care to others through cards, meals, and kindness that showed up exactly when needed. Her life was her ministry.
She was a skilled and passionate gardener, a fierce Scrabble opponent, and a true kitchen magician — with pie crusts and yeast breads that became legend. In her younger years, her macramé, toll painting, and 3D art decorated her home with creativity and love.
Pat leaves behind her beloved husband, Thomas; children, Tricia Treesh (Shane), and Sharla Boucher (Joseph); grandchildren, Zakariah Banane, Alanna Matthews, Severin Matthews, and Savannah Matthews; her brother, Roger Parker (Florence); and many dear friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Charlotte Parker; her siblings Roy Dean Parker and Reta Ann Williams.
Pat’s legacy is one of quiet compassion, unwavering strength, and fierce devotion to those she loved. She was the kind of woman who made you feel better just by being in the room — and she did it without needing a spotlight.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 8th, 2025, at the Tatum Church of Christ, 300 West Johnson Street, Tatum, Texas 75691.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant something beautiful in her memory — or challenge a loved one to a ruthless game of Scrabble in her honor.
A guestbook may be signed at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.