Patricia C. Pravecek

Patricia "Pat" C. Pravecek, 84, of Vermillion, South Dakota passed away Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Sanford Vermillion Care Center. The Celebration of Pat's Life will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion with Fr. Terry Anderson officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Pat was born on December 2, 1939 and grew up in Presho SD. She was the daughter of a wheat farmer and homemaker. She was the oldest sibling and only daughter of 5 children. She was a varsity basketball player in high school and fierce competitor in all things from an early age. She went to nursing school at Mt. Marty. She graduated and worked at several hospitals, including OK City and New Orleans, where she lived in the French Quarter. She moved to Winner SD and was set up on a blind date with a cowboy who took her to a donkey basketball game for their first date. After a short courtship, Pat and Al was married and they remained happily married for over 61 years. Never one to sit still, Pat challenged herself with many different fields including nursing, owning a restaurant, and being an entrepreneur. At the age of fifty, Pat returned to school at Mt. Marty to obtain her degree in accounting and worked for a software company on a reservation. She then joined Al in his veterinary clinic in Vermillion for many years taking care of so many beloved furry family members. She devoted much of her time volunteering with ESA, Meals on Wheels, the churches and a variety of other worthy causes. Pat loved to be active and enjoyed physical fitness, gardening, reading, cooking, and traveling. She is survived by her husband, Alvin, her two children, Chris (Jody) of Chicago, IL and Jacqueline (Jack) Herrboldt of Scotland, SD; her six grandchildren, Ashley, Hailey, Tracy, Noah, Luke and Jenna, and two great-grandchildren, Vezire and Senato; her three brothers, Bernard, Richard, and Randy Diedrich; three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cleova and Walter Diedrich, and her two brothers, Ron and Tom Diedrich. To send flowers to the family of Patricia, please visit our floral store.