Patricia Louise Charters Liljenquist passed away on June 6, 2023, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is soon to be laid to rest alongside her husband, Lorenzo Blaine Liljenquist, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Patt, as she was known throughout most of her life, was born in January 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Otto and Clara Charters. She was the oldest of four girls, all born during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. In December 1939, Patt's sister Gladys Mae died of a congenital heart condition at age 3. The next year, Patt's parents separated from each other and from their children. Patt went to live with her maternal grandparents, while her two younger sisters, Shirley Ann and Beverly Jean, were put in an orphanage and adopted by other families. Patt had a good life with her grandparents, but the break-up of her family was a tremendous loss for her.
Patt remained with her grandparents until she finished high school in 1950. That same year, she married Charles Robert Perry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They soon had two children: first Charles Steven Perry and then a few years later Kathryn Patricia Perry. The family moved to Florida, but the marriage did not last. After 12 years, Patricia and Charles divorced in Broward County, FL. She was 31 years old.
Soon after her divorce, Patt moved with her children to Arlington, Virginia. There she met and fell in love with Blaine Liljenquist. He was the love of her life. They married July 31, 1964, in Salt Lake City, UT. Patt became a stepmother to five sons who had recently lost their mother to cancer: John, Blaine, David, Tom, and Mark.
Patt and Blaine and their blended family first lived together in Arlington. Later, they moved to McLean, where they had built a beautiful home. With Blaine as the head of the Western Meatpackers Association, they entertained often and traveled overseas many times, promoting American beef and leather. Patt was a great hostess and a stylish traveling companion for Blaine.
Patt loved to cook, to entertain, to knit, to arrange flowers, and to decorate. She was a businesswoman, selling health products as an independent distributor and opening her own interior design business. She was also a woman of faith and family. She was very active in her congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her many grandchildren—nearly 30 of them. Later in life, she reconnected with her sisters, healing from the loss from years before.
Patt and Blaine lived in McLean for several years before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to live close to their son Blaine and his family. During their many years there, Patt and Blaine worked together as realtors. They later returned to McLean, where Patt got involved with the Women's Club of McLean and continued in her interior design work. She often hosted Sunday family dinners for her children and grandchildren who were living in the DC area. And her home was always welcoming to strangers.
In 2003, Blaine passed away suddenly, at the age of 91. They had been married for 39 years. It was a terrible loss for Patt, and she missed him greatly. But she had life left to live and moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 2007, where she bought a home in a retirement community. She enjoyed her time there, taking art and dance classes and enjoying friends, particularly her husband's youngest sister, Anna Laurene. But after a bout of shingles in late 2011, Patt began to develop dementia and within a year was no longer able to live on her own.
Over the next ten years, Patt lived with three different granddaughters, but for most of that time with granddaughter Emily and her family in Idaho Falls, ID. During this time, she was saddened to learn of the passing of her daughter Kathy and stepson Mark. In October 2021, she moved into a memory care facility, where her health declined slowly until a sudden turn for the worse, likely due to a stroke, in late May of this year. She died a few weeks later, on June 6, 2023. She was 91 years old.
Those who loved Patt take joy in her heavenly reunion with Blaine, Kathy, Mark, and all those she dearly loved. She is survived by her stepsons John, Blaine, David, and Tom, and son Steve, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren—too many to count.
Funeral services for Patt will be held at Money & King Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10 am. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 16, 2023.
Patt, as she was known throughout most of her life, was born in January 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Otto and Clara Charters. She was the oldest of four girls, all born during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. In December 1939, Patt's sister Gladys Mae died of a congenital heart condition at age 3. The next year, Patt's parents separated from each other and from their children. Patt went to live with her maternal grandparents, while her two younger sisters, Shirley Ann and Beverly Jean, were put in an orphanage and adopted by other families. Patt had a good life with her grandparents, but the break-up of her family was a tremendous loss for her.
Patt remained with her grandparents until she finished high school in 1950. That same year, she married Charles Robert Perry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They soon had two children: first Charles Steven Perry and then a few years later Kathryn Patricia Perry. The family moved to Florida, but the marriage did not last. After 12 years, Patricia and Charles divorced in Broward County, FL. She was 31 years old.
Soon after her divorce, Patt moved with her children to Arlington, Virginia. There she met and fell in love with Blaine Liljenquist. He was the love of her life. They married July 31, 1964, in Salt Lake City, UT. Patt became a stepmother to five sons who had recently lost their mother to cancer: John, Blaine, David, Tom, and Mark.
Patt and Blaine and their blended family first lived together in Arlington. Later, they moved to McLean, where they had built a beautiful home. With Blaine as the head of the Western Meatpackers Association, they entertained often and traveled overseas many times, promoting American beef and leather. Patt was a great hostess and a stylish traveling companion for Blaine.
Patt loved to cook, to entertain, to knit, to arrange flowers, and to decorate. She was a businesswoman, selling health products as an independent distributor and opening her own interior design business. She was also a woman of faith and family. She was very active in her congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her many grandchildren—nearly 30 of them. Later in life, she reconnected with her sisters, healing from the loss from years before.
Patt and Blaine lived in McLean for several years before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to live close to their son Blaine and his family. During their many years there, Patt and Blaine worked together as realtors. They later returned to McLean, where Patt got involved with the Women's Club of McLean and continued in her interior design work. She often hosted Sunday family dinners for her children and grandchildren who were living in the DC area. And her home was always welcoming to strangers.
In 2003, Blaine passed away suddenly, at the age of 91. They had been married for 39 years. It was a terrible loss for Patt, and she missed him greatly. But she had life left to live and moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 2007, where she bought a home in a retirement community. She enjoyed her time there, taking art and dance classes and enjoying friends, particularly her husband's youngest sister, Anna Laurene. But after a bout of shingles in late 2011, Patt began to develop dementia and within a year was no longer able to live on her own.
Over the next ten years, Patt lived with three different granddaughters, but for most of that time with granddaughter Emily and her family in Idaho Falls, ID. During this time, she was saddened to learn of the passing of her daughter Kathy and stepson Mark. In October 2021, she moved into a memory care facility, where her health declined slowly until a sudden turn for the worse, likely due to a stroke, in late May of this year. She died a few weeks later, on June 6, 2023. She was 91 years old.
Those who loved Patt take joy in her heavenly reunion with Blaine, Kathy, Mark, and all those she dearly loved. She is survived by her stepsons John, Blaine, David, and Tom, and son Steve, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren—too many to count.
Funeral services for Patt will be held at Money & King Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10 am. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 16, 2023.
Patricia Louise Charters Liljenquist passed away on June 6, 2023, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is soon to be laid to rest alongside her husband, Lorenzo Blaine Liljenquist, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Patt, as she was known throughout most of her life, was born in January 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Otto and Clara Charters. She was the oldest of four girls, all born during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. In December 1939, Patt's sister Gladys Mae died of a congenital heart condition at age 3. The next year, Patt's parents separated from each other and from their children. Patt went to live with her maternal grandparents, while her two younger sisters, Shirley Ann and Beverly Jean, were put in an orphanage and adopted by other families. Patt had a good life with her grandparents, but the break-up of her family was a tremendous loss for her.
Patt remained with her grandparents until she finished high school in 1950. That same year, she married Charles Robert Perry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They soon had two children: first Charles Steven Perry and then a few years later Kathryn Patricia Perry. The family moved to Florida, but the marriage did not last. After 12 years, Patricia and Charles divorced in Broward County, FL. She was 31 years old.
Soon after her divorce, Patt moved with her children to Arlington, Virginia. There she met and fell in love with Blaine Liljenquist. He was the love of her life. They married July 31, 1964, in Salt Lake City, UT. Patt became a stepmother to five sons who had recently lost their mother to cancer: John, Blaine, David, Tom, and Mark.
Patt and Blaine and their blended family first lived together in Arlington. Later, they moved to McLean, where they had built a beautiful home. With Blaine as the head of the Western Meatpackers Association, they entertained often and traveled overseas many times, promoting American beef and leather. Patt was a great hostess and a stylish traveling companion for Blaine.
Patt loved to cook, to entertain, to knit, to arrange flowers, and to decorate. She was a businesswoman, selling health products as an independent distributor and opening her own interior design business. She was also a woman of faith and family. She was very active in her congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her many grandchildren—nearly 30 of them. Later in life, she reconnected with her sisters, healing from the loss from years before.
Patt and Blaine lived in McLean for several years before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to live close to their son Blaine and his family. During their many years there, Patt and Blaine worked together as realtors. They later returned to McLean, where Patt got involved with the Women's Club of McLean and continued in her interior design work. She often hosted Sunday family dinners for her children and grandchildren who were living in the DC area. And her home was always welcoming to strangers.
In 2003, Blaine passed away suddenly, at the age of 91. They had been married for 39 years. It was a terrible loss for Patt, and she missed him greatly. But she had life left to live and moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 2007, where she bought a home in a retirement community. She enjoyed her time there, taking art and dance classes and enjoying friends, particularly her husband's youngest sister, Anna Laurene. But after a bout of shingles in late 2011, Patt began to develop dementia and within a year was no longer able to live on her own.
Over the next ten years, Patt lived with three different granddaughters, but for most of that time with granddaughter Emily and her family in Idaho Falls, ID. During this time, she was saddened to learn of the passing of her daughter Kathy and stepson Mark. In October 2021, she moved into a memory care facility, where her health declined slowly until a sudden turn for the worse, likely due to a stroke, in late May of this year. She died a few weeks later, on June 6, 2023. She was 91 years old.
Those who loved Patt take joy in her heavenly reunion with Blaine, Kathy, Mark, and all those she dearly loved. She is survived by her stepsons John, Blaine, David, and Tom, and son Steve, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren—too many to count.
Funeral services for Patt will be held at Money & King Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10 am. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 16, 2023.
Patt, as she was known throughout most of her life, was born in January 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Otto and Clara Charters. She was the oldest of four girls, all born during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. In December 1939, Patt's sister Gladys Mae died of a congenital heart condition at age 3. The next year, Patt's parents separated from each other and from their children. Patt went to live with her maternal grandparents, while her two younger sisters, Shirley Ann and Beverly Jean, were put in an orphanage and adopted by other families. Patt had a good life with her grandparents, but the break-up of her family was a tremendous loss for her.
Patt remained with her grandparents until she finished high school in 1950. That same year, she married Charles Robert Perry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They soon had two children: first Charles Steven Perry and then a few years later Kathryn Patricia Perry. The family moved to Florida, but the marriage did not last. After 12 years, Patricia and Charles divorced in Broward County, FL. She was 31 years old.
Soon after her divorce, Patt moved with her children to Arlington, Virginia. There she met and fell in love with Blaine Liljenquist. He was the love of her life. They married July 31, 1964, in Salt Lake City, UT. Patt became a stepmother to five sons who had recently lost their mother to cancer: John, Blaine, David, Tom, and Mark.
Patt and Blaine and their blended family first lived together in Arlington. Later, they moved to McLean, where they had built a beautiful home. With Blaine as the head of the Western Meatpackers Association, they entertained often and traveled overseas many times, promoting American beef and leather. Patt was a great hostess and a stylish traveling companion for Blaine.
Patt loved to cook, to entertain, to knit, to arrange flowers, and to decorate. She was a businesswoman, selling health products as an independent distributor and opening her own interior design business. She was also a woman of faith and family. She was very active in her congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her many grandchildren—nearly 30 of them. Later in life, she reconnected with her sisters, healing from the loss from years before.
Patt and Blaine lived in McLean for several years before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to live close to their son Blaine and his family. During their many years there, Patt and Blaine worked together as realtors. They later returned to McLean, where Patt got involved with the Women's Club of McLean and continued in her interior design work. She often hosted Sunday family dinners for her children and grandchildren who were living in the DC area. And her home was always welcoming to strangers.
In 2003, Blaine passed away suddenly, at the age of 91. They had been married for 39 years. It was a terrible loss for Patt, and she missed him greatly. But she had life left to live and moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 2007, where she bought a home in a retirement community. She enjoyed her time there, taking art and dance classes and enjoying friends, particularly her husband's youngest sister, Anna Laurene. But after a bout of shingles in late 2011, Patt began to develop dementia and within a year was no longer able to live on her own.
Over the next ten years, Patt lived with three different granddaughters, but for most of that time with granddaughter Emily and her family in Idaho Falls, ID. During this time, she was saddened to learn of the passing of her daughter Kathy and stepson Mark. In October 2021, she moved into a memory care facility, where her health declined slowly until a sudden turn for the worse, likely due to a stroke, in late May of this year. She died a few weeks later, on June 6, 2023. She was 91 years old.
Those who loved Patt take joy in her heavenly reunion with Blaine, Kathy, Mark, and all those she dearly loved. She is survived by her stepsons John, Blaine, David, and Tom, and son Steve, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren—too many to count.
Funeral services for Patt will be held at Money & King Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10 am. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 16, 2023.
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